The High Court revokes the bench warrant for Chairman Wontumi’s arrest.

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Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the Accra High Court has revoked the bench warrant it had previously issued for his arrest.

The High Court revokes the bench warrant for Chairman Wontumi's arrest.
The High Court revokes the bench warrant for Chairman Wontumi’s arrest.
The warrant was issued on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, after the NPP regional chairman failed to appear in court for his ongoing criminal trial without prior notice or a valid excuse. However, after Chairman Wontumi went before the court to clarify the reasons for his absence, the directive was revoked later that morning.

A report by Citinewsroom suggests that the bench warrant was issued around 9:40 a.m. and remained active until Wontumi and his legal team arrived shortly after 10 a.m.

Andy Appiah-Kubi, his attorney, begged the court to revoke the order, stating that there had been a miscommunication about the sitting’s schedule.

He said to the court that he had ordered his client to come at 10 a.m. because he thought the proceedings were due for a case management meeting at that time.

The presiding judge lifted the arrest warrant at 11:39 a.m. after taking the explanation into consideration, but he warned Chairman Wontumi to arrive on time for all further sessions.

Context

The High Court revokes the bench warrant for Chairman Wontumi's arrest.
The High Court revokes the bench warrant for Chairman Wontumi’s arrest.
Ashanti Regional chairman Wontumi

The Accra High Court is now trying Chairman Wontumi in two different matters involving unlawful mining (galamsey). After spending three nights in police jail, he was released on bail totalling GH₵25 million for both charges earlier in October 2025.

Wontumi was given GH₵15 million in bail in the first case, which was overseen by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh. He was charged with illegally allocating mineral rights and enabling unauthorised mining operations. In the second instance, he and four other defendants were given GH₵10 million bail in connection with seven counts of charges relating to illegal mining.

Since then, the court has mandated that he stay on a stop list at all points of entry and departure until additional orders are given and that he report to investigators twice a month.

As the state continues to press its case against him, the embattled NPP chairman is still under judicial scrutiny, but the bench warrant’s withdrawal provides him with some brief respite.

The High Court revokes the bench warrant for Chairman Wontumi's arrest.
The High Court revokes the bench warrant for Chairman Wontumi’s arrest.

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