In a pivotal development at the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay dismissed an application from lawyers representing Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The legal team had sought to halt the court’s judgment in the high-profile Samreboi mining case and refer constitutional issues to the Supreme Court.
The courtroom was tense as defence lawyer Charles Boakye, appearing on behalf of lead counsel Samuel Atta Akyea, announced that the defence had filed their application on July 16, asking for a postponement of the judgment. The defence argued that the Supreme Court needed to interpret certain constitutional issues before a verdict could be delivered. Boakye also informed the court that Atta Akyea was out of the country and would return on July 22, requesting that the matter be adjourned until then.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay, however, was unmoved. She ruled that the application lacked sufficient grounds for a delay and noted that any scheduling conflicts should have been communicated well in advance. The judge further explained that oral submissions were not necessary for the court to rule on the pending application, as the motion had been properly filed and could be determined on its merits.
With the application dismissed, the court proceeded to deliver its long-awaited judgment. Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited, and a third accused, Kwame Antwi, all stood trial over allegations of illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region, a charge they have consistently denied.
The judge’s decision not only cleared the way for the verdict, but also signaled a commitment to timely justice in a case with national ramifications.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com