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A bench warrant issued against the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Wontumi, has been revoked. The warrant was issued by the High Court after he was thought to have absented himself from proceedings without permission when his case was called on Tuesday morning. Immediately after the issuance, the politician was captured in a video following his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, into the courtroom. In an interview, NPP activist Koka claimed that Wontumi was present at the court premises at the time his bench warrant was being issued. According to him, the politician thought his case would be called at 10 am and was therefore hanging around the court premises. The case has been adjourned to November 4, 2025. Wontumi is facing charges at the High Court, including undertaking a mining operation without a licence as co-owner/director of Akonta Mining; abetting the unauthorised felling of trees in the Tano Nimri forest reserve; and abetting the unauthorised erection of buildings in the forest. He was arraigned three weeks ago alongside one other person, during which he pleaded not guilty and got bail in the sum of GHC10 million with two sureties, one of whom must justify with proof of landed property. The politician is standing trial alongside Akonta Mining Limited; Edward Akuoko, the Operations Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited; Kwadwo Owusu Bempah, the company’s Operations Manager; and Kwame Antwi, a co-director, both of whom are currently at large.
