Judge Clashes with Wontumi’s Lawyers Over Trial Delays in Court

The High Court in Accra has witnessed a tense exchange between the bench and defence lawyers in the ongoing trial of Bernard Antwi Boasiako over alleged illegal mining activities linked to a concession at Samreboi.

The case, heard at High Court Criminal Division 4 on May 7, 2026, centres on allegations that mining operations were carried out without authorisation from the relevant sector minister, in breach of Ghana’s mining laws.

During proceedings, the court sought to fix dates for the defence to open its case. However, defence lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi objected to the proposed schedule and requested longer adjournments, sparking disagreement over trial timelines.

Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay pushed back against the objections, insisting that the court had already made efforts to accommodate the defence within its calendar.

In a pointed response, she questioned the repeated requests for delays and expressed frustration over the scheduling disputes, noting that court sessions had already been adjusted to suit the defence.

The judge also addressed public criticism over delays in so-called Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) cases, stating that lawyers must also accept responsibility for slowing down proceedings.

She urged legal practitioners to be transparent about their role in prolonging trials when public concern arises over judicial delays.

On the prosecution side, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Sai argued that an expedited hearing would benefit all parties, including the accused, and said the state was ready to proceed with multiple hearing days per week.

He further stated that while the prosecution had made concessions in scheduling, the defence could not dictate the pace of the trial.

The court eventually adjourned the case to May 14, 2026, for a case management conference as preparations continue for the defence to open its case.