Wontumi to face CID over Akonta Mining galamsey case today

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been directed to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in Accra today, Monday, October 6.

He is expected to answer charges relating to the alleged involvement of his company, Akonta Mining Limited, in illegal small-scale mining, widely known as galamsey.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, who made the announcement, cautioned that failure by Chairman Wontumi to report as ordered would result in his arrest.

Speaking during President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on illegal mining in Accra on Friday, October 3, Dr. Ayine said: “The charges against Wontumi and Akonta Mining have been signed. He should be here on Monday. If he doesn’t come by Monday, I will order his arrest, and his charges will be read to him.”

The directive follows months of investigation into Akonta Mining’s operations, which have been at the center of public controversy over alleged illegal mining in forest reserves.

Earlier this year, Director-General of the CID, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, confirmed that the investigation into Akonta Mining was ongoing. She revealed that Chairman Wontumi had visited the CID multiple times but had been granted time off due to illness. “He is actually supposed to be coming back to us sometime this week. Unfortunately, he was ill, and his lawyer submitted a letter to us that he was unwell. I believe he is now okay because we have communicated to them that he should be seeing us this week,” she said.

DCOP Donkor also disclosed that another individual, identified as Akuoko, believed to be a partner in Akonta Mining, had been arrested and questioned as part of the investigation. “We have taken statements from him, and we are continuing with the investigations,” she added.

Chairman Wontumi first appeared before the CID on May 26, 2025, accompanied by his lawyers, former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and former MP for Asante-Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi. He has consistently denied any involvement in galamsey, insisting his company operates legally.

“I want to tell the public that I am not into galamsey,” he said earlier on Wontumi TV. “I have a large-scale company, which Akonta Mining is under… All the required documents I have, I will make all available. They should let the law work.”