Chairman Wontumi’s Trial To Commence On October 7
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is set to go on trial on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
The case centres on allegations of illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining Limited, a company reportedly associated with him.
His trial follows his appearance at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra on Monday, October 6, after he was directed by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to report or face arrest. The Attorney General had earlier revealed that charges against the NPP regional chairman had already been approved.
Chairman Wontumi, who arrived at the CID office around 9:30 a.m. with his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, was questioned for several hours before being granted bail in the sum of GH¢1 million. The investigation is centred on alleged illegal mining operations said to be connected to Akonta Mining, a company associated with him.
Speaking to the media after his engagement with the police, Chairman Wontumi commended both the Attorney General’s office and the Ghana Police Service for their professionalism. “I want to congratulate the police system for showing professionalism. We also want to thank the Attorney General for facilitating the entire process,” he stated.
e confirmed that the charge levelled against him involves “mining without a license” and expressed confidence in the judicial process. “As you have seen, we will go to court, and that is where the decision will be taken. We are not to maintain innocence, but we are allowed to proceed and then present our defence,” he added.
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.
His trial follows his appearance at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra on Monday, October 6, after he was directed by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to report or face arrest. The Attorney General had earlier revealed that charges against the NPP regional chairman had already been approved.
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.
He confirmed that the charge levelled against him involves “mining without a license” and expressed confidence in the judicial process. “As you have seen, we will go to court, and that is where the decision will be taken. We are not to maintain innocence, but we are allowed to proceed and then present our defence,” he added.
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.”
ghanatoday