Wontumi Appoints Samuel Atta Akyea as Lead Counsel Following Appiah-Kubi’s Move to Withdraw
ACCRA, GHANA — The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as “Chairman Wontumi,” has officially appointed prominent legal practitioner and former Abuakwa South Member of Parliament, Samuel Atta Akyea, as his new lead defense counsel.
The high-profile shake-up to his legal defense team was confirmed in an official statement issued on Monday, June 15, 2026. The announcement follows a turbulent period in the courtroom where the Accra High Court recently struck out an application by Wontumi’s previous lead counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, who had sought permission to formally withdraw his legal services from the case.
Constitutional Right to Counsel of Choice
In his statement, Chairman Wontumi noted that the decision to bring Atta Akyea on board was finalized after careful consultation. He emphasized that the transition was a straightforward exercise of his constitutional right to be represented by a legal counsel of his own choosing.
Wontumi expressed profound gratitude to his former legal team, led by Appiah-Kubi, for their dedicated service and commitment since the inception of the criminal trial. He clarified that the restructuring of his defense should not be viewed as a negative reflection on the competence or dedication of his previous lawyers, but rather as a tactical pivot to ensure his defense is fully and effectively robust moving forward.
A High-Stakes Legal Battle Continues
Chairman Wontumi is currently facing serious criminal charges at the Accra High Court, which include defrauding by false pretense, uttering a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution. The case involves an alleged GH¢30 million financial loss suffered by the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM) in connection with credit facilities extended to Wontumi Farms Limited.
Reiterating his confidence in the justice system, the NPP regional chairman—who is actively harboring ambitions to contest for the NPP National Chairmanship position—maintained that he is fully committed to defending his name through due process. He re-emphasized his right to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a competent court of law.
Atta Akyea is expected to formally take over the defense, file the necessary legal notices to assume full operational responsibility, and review the extensive record of trial proceedings ahead of the next scheduled court sitting.
