Director of Legal Affairs for the United Party, Andrew Appiah Danquah, has asserted that counsel for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, may deploy legal strategies aimed at delaying judgment in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
The comment comes as the High Court prepares to deliver judgment on July 3 in the criminal case titled The Republic v Bernard Antwi-Boasiako & 2 Others, involving alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The case has recently seen a change in legal representation for the accused, after his former lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, expressed interest in withdrawing from the matter.
Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ AM Show on Friday, June 19, Appiah Danquah said while the change of counsel is a normal legal process, it could be used to slow down proceedings ahead of judgment.
“I think Wontumi has the right to change this counsel, or the counsel himself has the right to withdraw from the case, so I don’t think we should read too much into it. Maybe it may be strategic, I don’t know, but I think there is a strategy to prevent the judgment on the 3rd of July from being read,” he said.
He explained that newly appointed counsel may require time to review case records and prepare written submissions, which could influence the court’s timetable.
According to him, written submissions remain a critical stage in criminal proceedings, as they form part of the arguments that assist the court in reaching a decision.
“The strategy is to try as much as possible to push the judgment of the 3rd of July, because the new counsel will need time to go through the processes and file submissions,” he moted.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Atta Akyea, who now represents the accused, has indicated in a separate interview that he may request additional time from the court to file his written address.
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