Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has filed an application for Stay of Proceedings pending an outcome of an interlocutory appeal challenging the order of the High Court to open his defence to the Samreboi galamsey charges.
On March 16, 2026, the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, dismissed his submission of no case and ordered him and Akonta Mining Limited to open their defence and answer to the six charges over the Samreboi concession.
Moments after the order, he requested seven days within which time he would procure the ruling and apprise himself for the next line of action, whether he would remain silent or open his defence, a request which was granted.
On Thursday, March 26, 2026, when the parties reconvened, the presiding Judge said she had only been served with a motion for Stay of Proceedings pending a determination of an interlocutory appeal.
“I have just received an application for stay of proceedings pending interlocutory appeal filed against a ruling of this court,” she said, an application which was premised on the dismissal in respect of the submission of no case to answer filed at 11:05 am with a return date of Thursday, April 16.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay sought to find out from the State if it had been served with the processes. Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai acknowledged receipt, saying they had received their copy a few hours prior.
Abridgement of time
Dr. Srem-Sai submitted that after perusing the application, there were no factual issues and also waived rights to file formal affidavits in opposition except to say that, they will instead respond on the point of law.
He prayed for the return date of the said application to be abridged from April 16 to today (March 26) for determination.
“We have been served a few hours ago. We have also read it and we wish to pray that time be abridged for the motion to be taken today. We respectfully pray. There are no real factual issues.
“We intend to oppose the motion on the point of law since the affidavit in support thereof makes no factual depositions but only claims of laws and opinions; we, therefore, in the interest of justice, fair and speedy trial, waive our rights to file an affidavit in opposition. We respectfully submit.”
I’m not ready
Counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah, said, “I’m not ready” to move the application as moved by the Deputy Attorney General.
“This is a criminal trial and this is also a court of record. It is our expectation that whatever reason this prayer (from Deputy AG) is made, be made by official application for us to have an opportunity to respond to same,” he said.
“I will pray that if counsel is minded to apply for the abridgement of time, he should follow the rule of procedure and come formally.”
By court
After listening to the parties, Justice Kocuvie-Tay raised some fundamental points, saying that the court, by its inherent jurisdiction, can abridge the time in respect of any application.
She also stated that it is trite that when an application is filed, the other side need not file an affidavit in opposition for its consideration, and it is also trite that when an application is filed, the court can consider same whether it is moved or not.
After suggesting dates for the parties to decide on one, the parties agreed to come back for the Application for Stay of proceedings to be moved on April 2.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
