The High Court’s Criminal Division in Accra has rejected an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking leave to formally withdraw from the ongoing criminal case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited, Kwame Antwi and Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi.
The decision followed a preliminary objection filed by the Attorney-General, who argued that the application had no legal basis.
According to the State, lawyers do not need the court’s approval to end their representation in a case.
The Attorney-General, therefore, maintained that the application did not raise any issue requiring the court’s intervention.
After considering the arguments, the court agreed with the State and struck out the application.
The judge ruled that the request was incompetent because the law does not require legal counsel to seek permission before stepping away from a case.
The court also clarified that parties involved in the matter are not obliged to file closing addresses, although they may choose to do so.
To allow sufficient time for any submissions, the court extended the deadline for filing closing addresses to June 23, 2026.
The case will return to court on July 3, 2026, when judgment is expected to be delivered.
The ruling comes shortly after Mr Appiah-Kubi announced his intention to withdraw from the case.
He cited concerns over the court’s handling of the proceedings as the reason for his decision.
However, the Attorney-General’s Office challenged the move, arguing that the application was unnecessary under the law.
With the application now dismissed, the court has cleared the way for the case to proceed towards its final judgment.
