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Court of Appeal dismisses Wontumi's attempt to halt Samreboi mining trial
via GhanaWeb4 min read
The Court of Appeal has rejected an application by lawyers for Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, to stop his ongoing criminal trial at an Accra High Court. The court ruled on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, that the application did not present sufficient exceptional circumstances to justify a stay of proceedings, allowing the substantive case to continue at the High Court. Chairman Wontumi's legal team had sought to suspend the trial pending the outcome of an appeal against an earlier decision. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have now denied this request. Chairman Wontumi's lead counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, stated that the defense team is reviewing the ruling and considering options, including an appeal to the Supreme Court or proceeding with the defense at the High Court. Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited face six charges related to allegedly permitting unlicensed mining activities on the company's concession without ministerial approval.
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An Accra High Court has dismissed an application to discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others involved in an alleged GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering case. The Office of the Special Prosecutor announced on April 21, 2026, that the court rejected arguments from the defense counsel claiming the OSP lacked prosecutorial authority, citing a High Court ruling from April 15, 2026. The court acknowledged ongoing legal proceedings regarding the OSP's mandate and adjourned the case to May 26, 2026. The OSP maintains its powers are valid under existing laws. All 10 accused individuals and corporate entities have pleaded not guilty to charges related to an alleged scheme targeting Oil Marketing Companies and Bulk Oil Distribution Companies between 2022 and 2024. Dr. Abdul-Hamid is specifically accused of personally benefiting GH¢24 million from the alleged illicit enterprise.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has warned government appointees against using political power to meddle in chieftaincy disputes, specifically citing the situation in Sampa. Speaking at a meeting of the Asanteman Council on Monday, April 20, 2026, Otumfuo emphasized that political authority is temporary and urged those in office to be mindful of their actions. He criticized what he described as increasing political interference in traditional matters, highlighting developments in Sampa and other areas. The Asantehene mentioned Interior Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, Minister of Chieftaincy and Local Government Ahmed Ibrahim, Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa, and the regional police commander in connection with the uncertainty in the Sampa Traditional Council. He stated that the Sampa chieftaincy issue had been settled, the chief had taken an oath, the matter had gone to court, and the chief was registered by the National House of Chiefs. Otumfuo expressed concern that despite this, the legitimate chief's security was reportedly not guaranteed by a regional minister when attempting to enter the town, while an illegitimate chief was allegedly supported by ministers and the regional police commander. He also noted that in Sampa, one faction was arrested while another was not, and a regional minister reportedly called a judge on a holiday to remand them. The Asantehene voiced concerns about the disregard for judicial decisions in communities like Sampa, Nkyer
Hassan Tampuli, the Member of Parliament for Gushegu and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, has expressed concerns about what he describes as a deliberate effort to undermine the Office of the Special Prosecutor OSP. Speaking on behalf of the New Patriotic Party NPP Minority, Tampuli stated that recent legal challenges and political actions against the anti-corruption body are part of a broader, coordinated attempt to weaken an institution handling high-profile corruption cases. He highlighted a sequence of events, including petitions seeking the removal of the Special Prosecutor, parliamentary actions, and court cases, as evidence of a common agenda. Tampuli described the petitions as "political weapons designed to harass, delegitimize, and remove from office a public servant whose crime was that he was doing his job." His remarks follow an April 15, 2026, Accra High Court ruling that declared all OSP prosecutions null and void on constitutional grounds. Tampuli told journalists that petitions submitted to President John Dramani Mahama for the Special Prosecutor's removal were "coordinated and strategically timed," suggesting they aimed to create a perception of public dissatisfaction rather than address genuine legal concerns. He noted that none of the petitions referred to the Chief Justice established a prima facie case. He also mentioned attempts in Parliament to limit the OSP's powers and a Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of the
Ghana's Audit Service has issued an apology to Frank Oliver Kpodo, former Procurement Director at the Ministry of Defence, after mistakenly linking him to a GH¢427 million payroll fraud case. The error originated from findings in the Auditor-General’s Nationwide Payroll Audit, covering January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, which incorrectly cited Kpodo. The Audit Service clarified on April 21, 2026, that the GH¢427,995,661.40 figure was a "transpositional error" and actually pertained to the Ministry of Education, involving 3,476 unaccounted staff. Kpodo, now Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, had previously appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on March 31, 2026, for separate allegations concerning falsified documents in a GH¢4.8 million deal. He had denied the payroll fraud allegations, stating his salaries were processed correctly and he was unaware of any irregularities.