The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that charges against Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, and his mining firm Akonta Mining, have been finalized and signed.
Mr. Boasiako has been directed to report to Accra on Monday, October 6, 2025, for his charges to be formally read. The Attorney-General warned that failure to appear would lead to his immediate arrest.
“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,” Dr. Ayine said during President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with civil society organizations on illegal mining in Accra on Friday, October 3.
CID Confirms Ongoing Investigations
The Attorney-General’s statement comes as part of ongoing investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining, a company accused of engaging in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, earlier confirmed that probes into the company’s activities are “actively ongoing.” She revealed that one other individual linked to Akonta Mining has also been arrested.
According to her, Chairman Wontumi had cooperated with investigators on several occasions but had recently postponed further appearances due to illness — a claim supported by his lawyer.
The CID has also taken statements from a business associate of Wontumi, identified as Akuoko, in connection with the case.
Wontumi’s Response to Galamsey Allegations
Chairman Wontumi was first invited by the CID on May 26, 2025, where he appeared with his legal team, including former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and former Asante-Akim North MP Andy Appiah-Kubi.
He has since denied any involvement in galamsey activities, insisting that Akonta Mining is a licensed large-scale mining company.
Speaking on his television 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 available.”
He further expressed readiness to cooperate fully with the investigations:
“I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work.”
