The High Court has dismissed an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking to withdraw as legal counsel for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the ongoing Akonta Mining criminal case.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, June 15, the court held that the application did not meet the legal requirements necessary for a lawyer to withdraw from a criminal matter. It noted that the request was unsupported by any legal authority or judicial precedent and had not been served on the client, a procedural requirement the court described as fundamental.
The court further explained that matters concerning legal representation in criminal proceedings are governed by established legal processes and must be handled appropriately between counsel and client.
As a result of the ruling, Appiah-Kubi remains counsel of record for Chairman Wontumi as the case continues before the court.
The decision follows the lawyer’s public announcement that he intended to discontinue representing the NPP regional chairman. Appiah-Kubi had cited concerns about the conduct of the proceedings and expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the court’s handling of the case.
According to him, certain decisions and determinations made during the trial contributed to his decision to seek withdrawal from the matter.
However, the court found that the application failed to satisfy the conditions required for such a request and subsequently dismissed it.
Meanwhile, the court has maintained the timetable for the substantive case, directing all parties to file their final addresses by June 24.
Judgment in the matter is expected to be delivered on July 3, with proceedings set to continue as scheduled and Appiah-Kubi remaining on record as counsel for Chairman Wontumi.
