Lead counsel for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, has explained his absence when the High Court delivered its judgement sentencing his client.
The former Abuakwa South MP said he travelled to the United Kingdom to attend his daughter’s graduation, describing the trip as unavoidable.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Tuesday, July 21, Mr Atta Akyea said his absence was influenced by both personal circumstances and his legal assessment of the case.
He explained that the defence team had intended to file a motion seeking the referral of constitutional issues raised during the trial to the Supreme Court, and he expected the trial judge to suspend proceedings pending that determination.
“It’s very unfortunate because, if I should let you know how personal it was for me to join my daughter who was graduating in the UK, I didn’t see how I could have absented myself,” he said.
Mr Atta Akyea argued that the constitutional issues before the court should have been referred to the Supreme Court in accordance with legal procedure, making it unnecessary for him to be present when the judgement was delivered.
“There was a constitutional matter staring at the court in the face. We wanted to move that motion, which I knew, if the judge would respect the hierarchy of the courts and even the law, that reference should have been made. That would mean I needn’t be around when a judgement is being pronounced,” he stated.
He dismissed suggestions that he had abandoned Chairman Wontumi at a crucial stage of the trial, insisting that his decision to travel was made in good faith.
“I had not left Ghana to sort of leave my client in that kind of predicament. I left Ghana on good measure that, indeed and in fact, my daughter was graduating, and I needed to be around,” he said.
Mr Atta Akyea also disclosed that the defence team is preparing to appeal the High Court’s decision at the Court of Appeal, maintaining that the trial was characterised by constitutional and procedural irregularities.
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