The Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that charges against the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and his Akonta Mining firm, have been completed and signed.
He announced that Mr Boasiako has been directed to report to Accra on Monday, October 6, 2025, for his charges to be read. Dr Ayine warned that failure to comply would result in his arrest.
Speaking during President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with civil society organisations on illegal mining in Accra on Friday, October 3, Dr Ayine stated: “The charges against Wontumi, 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 development follows ongoing investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining. The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, earlier confirmed that probes were underway, adding that one other person connected to the company had been arrested.
She explained that Chairman Wontumi had engaged with investigators on several occasions but had recently delayed further appearances due to illness, a claim supported by his lawyer. DCOP Donkor stressed that “the investigations are actively ongoing” and assured the public that the final outcome would be communicated.
The CID had also arrested and taken statements from a business associate of Mr Boasiako, identified as Akuoko, in connection with the matter.
Chairman Wontumi was first invited by the CID on May 26, 2025, and appeared in the company of his legal counsel, former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, and former Asante-Akim North MP Andy Appiah-Kubi.
He has consistently denied any involvement in illegal mining. Speaking on his TV station, Wontumi TV, he said: “I want to tell the public that I am not into galamsey. I have a large-scale company, which Akonta Mining is under… All the required documents I have, I will make all available.”
He added that he was prepared to cooperate fully with investigations. “I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work,” he said.
