AG to oppose Appiah-Kubi's withdrawal as Wontumi's lawyer

The Attorney-General has filed a preliminary legal objection at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, seeking to block an application by defence counsel in the ongoing criminal proceedings involving Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and others.

The objection, filed under docket number CR/0004/2026, is formally titled “Notice of Preliminary Legal Objection to Motion on Notice for Leave to Withdraw Legal Services.”

At the centre of the filing is a motion by defence lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, who is seeking leave of the court to withdraw from representing the accused persons in the case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited and Kwame Antwi.

In the notice dated June 12, 2026, the State argues that the application raises fundamental legal issues that must be determined before the court can grant any permission for counsel to withdraw. The Attorney-General’s office has anchored its objection on two key grounds — jurisdiction and capacity and standing.

“The Republic shall, on the grounds stated herein, raise a preliminary legal objection to the motion on notice for leave to withdraw legal services dated June 9, 2026,” the document stated.

Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, maintains that the issues raised in the withdrawal motion are not procedural formalities but preliminary legal questions that require judicial determination before any decision is taken.

The development follows Mr Appiah-Kubi’s announcement that he is stepping down from the case, citing dissatisfaction with how proceedings have been conducted.

“I have withdrawn from the Akonta Mining case in Criminal Court 4 with stated reasons in the affidavit in support of my motion. My disappointment is in the attitude, record, and determination of the court so far in handling these matters before the court. I’m so totally disappointed that is why I am withdrawing,” he said in an interview on Eyewitness News on June 11.

The Attorney-General’s objection has been served on the Registrar of the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra and copied to the accused persons as well as their legal representatives at Appiah-Kubi & Associates (Nhyira Chambers) in North Ridge.

The matter remains before the High Court, with the preliminary objection now setting up a legal contest over whether the defence counsel can formally exit the case at this stage.