The Attorney General has filed an affidavit opposing a bail application by businessman and politician Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in connection with the Samreboi illegal mining case.
The application, filed by Chairman Wontumi, seeks an order from the court granting him bail pending the determination of his appeal.
In a 13-paragraph affidavit in opposition, the Attorney General argues that the appeal does not disclose any reasonable prospect of success and that there are no special circumstances that would justify granting Wontumi bail while the appeal is pending.
The Attorney General is therefore asking the court to reject the application for bail.
The case, officially titled Republic v Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi & 2 Ors, relates to allegations arising from illegal mining activities at Samreboi. The proceedings have attracted significant public attention due to the identities of the accused persons and the wider national debate over illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, in Ghana.
The latest development places the court at the centre of the dispute over whether Wontumi should remain in custody while his appeal is pursued.
A bail application pending appeal is distinct from the original trial proceedings. The court must consider the circumstances surrounding the application and whether the legal requirements for granting bail have been satisfied.
According to the Attorney General’s affidavit, Wontumi’s appeal does not present a sufficiently strong basis for the court to exercise its discretion in his favour. The prosecution further maintains that no exceptional or special circumstances have been demonstrated to warrant his release pending the outcome of the appeal.
The court will now have the opportunity to hear arguments from both sides before making a determination.
The bail motion has been scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
The hearing is expected to attract considerable attention as the court considers whether the grounds presented by Wontumi are sufficient to justify his release pending appeal.
The development also comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Ghana’s efforts to tackle illegal mining and protect the country’s water bodies and environment. Cases involving alleged illegal mining activities have become a major part of the national conversation, with authorities under continued pressure to enforce environmental and mining regulations.
For now, the Attorney General’s position is clear: the state believes Wontumi’s appeal has no reasonable chance of success and that no special circumstances have been established to justify bail pending the appeal.
The final decision, however, rests with the court after hearing the arguments of the parties.
The 19 August hearing will therefore be an important next step in determining whether Chairman Wontumi will be granted bail while his appeal proceeds.
Source: Thepressradio.com
