Lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has raised concerns over the conduct of the Attorney-General Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, in the ongoing Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited trial.
According to him, the Attorney-General’s decision to withdraw charges against the General Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited and the fourth accused person, Edward Akuoko, so that he could become a prosecution witness, raises serious questions about fairness and justice.
Chairman Wontumi and the former fourth accused were facing charges related to engaging in illegal mining activities without a license and abetting the unauthorized felling of trees in a forest reserve.
Speaking to the press outside the courtroom on November 4, Lawyer Appiah-Kubi expressed disappointment over the move.
“We have just been served with a notice of withdrawal of the fourth accused person,” he stated.
“We are going to prepare our case. It doesn’t change our position. We have said we’re not guilty.”
The lawyer cautioned against things that could affect the decision of the court.
He added that the Attorney-General must prioritize his roles as both government prosecutor and Minister for Justice.
“I always issue this warning that we should be careful not to attempt to influence decisions of court,” he said.
“Attorney-General is also Minister for Justice and his role as Minister for Justice is even more important than his role as Attorney-General and government prosecutor.”
According to him, the decision to rely on a former accused person as a witness could compromise fairness in the ongoing case.
“If Attorney-General, with all the materials and resources available to him, including even human personnel, if it is just for him to only rely on a former accused person to prosecute the matter against some of the accused persons, and he thinks that justice may not be undermined, that is his decision,” he said.
“But I would have thought that his role as Minister of Justice would’ve persuaded him at all times to be careful that the justice of the moment he served also unto all the accused persons until they are proven guilty.”
He further corroded the Attorney-General’s approach, suggesting it may cause bias.
“The way that the Attorney-General appears to be poaching his own accused persons suggests that there is intent to undermine the course of justice,” he stated.
“We will resist the oppressor’s rule.”
