The Accra High Court has dismissed a motion filed by lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking to defer the delivery of judgment in his ongoing Samreboi concession trial.The court described the application as incompetent and moot, paving the way for Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay to proceed with the much-anticipated ruling in the case, which has drawn national attention due to its implications for the fight against illegal mining.The embattled NPP chairman arrived at the Accra High Court earlier today as the court prepared to deliver its verdict on charges of assignment of mineral rights without approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.The application for deferment was filed on July 16, 2026, by Wontumi’s new lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, who had taken over the case from previous lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi. Atta Akyea argued that he needed additional time to obtain and peruse the certified record of proceedings to enable him to file comprehensive written submissions on behalf of his clients.He further contended that Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), under which his client is being prosecuted, is vague, overbroad and inconsistent with the fair trial guarantees under Article 19(11) of the 1992 Constitution. He prayed the court to refer the constitutional question to the Supreme Court and, if the request is declined, to acquit and discharge his client.The Attorney-General’s office strongly opposed the application, describing it as an abuse of court process intended to frustrate the administration of justice.In an affidavit filed in opposition, the prosecution argued that the accused persons had been represented by legal counsel of their choice throughout the trial and that the withdrawal of previous counsel was voluntary and amicable. The state maintained that under such circumstances, the proper source for new counsel to obtain case records is the outgoing lawyer, not the court registry.The prosecution also questioned the timing of Atta Akyea’s appointment, noting that although he publicly announced his involvement on June 15, 2026, he only filed a formal notice of appointment on June 22, 2026 – a delay the state described as excessive and unjustified.The Attorney-General urged the court to dismiss the motion and proceed with the scheduled delivery of judgment, arguing that granting the application would amount to an endorsement of abuse of court processes and public ridicule of the justice system.Wontumi, together with Akonta Mining Company Limited and Kwame Antwi—a director of the company who is currently at large—were charged with permitting two persons to undertake mining operations on the Samreboi concession without obtaining the required approval from the sector minister.The prosecution called four witnesses during the trial. Henry Okum, a small-scale miner, testified that he had entered into a verbal agreement with Wontumi to undertake land reclamation and mining activities on the concession. However, Okum confirmed under cross-examination that there was no written agreement, deed of assignment or ministerial approval validating the arrangement.Joseph Iroko, Senior Manager for Legal Affairs at the Minerals Commission, testified that a search of the Commission’s records revealed no application or ministerial approval indicating that Akonta Mining had assigned or transferred the concession to Okum.After the prosecution closed its case, the court dismissed a submission of no case filed by Wontumi’s lawyers, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the accused to open his defence.In his defence, Wontumi mounted the witness box and denied ever authorising any person to undertake mining on the concession, maintaining that Henry Okum had only been contracted to provide land reclamation services. The defence called several witnesses, including former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku-Duker, and former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.