The High Court in Accra has rescinded the bench warrant it earlier issued for the arrest of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The decision follows his appearance before the court after the warrant was issued earlier in the day for failing to appear without permission.
Chairman Wontumi was expected to be present alongside his legal team for proceedings scheduled for the filing of disclosures and case management. However, when the case was called at 9:40 a.m., both he and his lawyers were absent, and no explanation was initially provided to the court.
The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Stella Ohene Appiah, was in attendance. Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay expressed concern over the absence of the accused and his counsel, describing the situation as unacceptable and issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.
Later in the day, Chairman Wontumi appeared before the court, leading Justice Kocuvi-Tay to rescind the warrant.
Chairman Wontumi is standing trial alongside Kwame Antwi, a director of Akonta Mining Limited, and the company itself. The three are facing charges of assigning mineral rights without lawful authority.
