The Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine has revealed that charges against Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and his Akonta Mining for their alleged involvement in illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) are ready.
He said that Chairman Wontumi has been written to, to report to Accra on Monday for his charges to be read to him.
Failure to report to Accra on Monday will lead to his arrest, Dr Ayine added.
Speaking during President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with Civil Society Organisations on galamsey in Accra on Friday, October 3, Dr Ayine said, “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.”
It is recalled that Director-General of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, announced that investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining, owned by Chairman Wontumi, were ongoing.
The CID boss said one other person had also been arrested in relation to the matter.
Asked about the current state of affairs in relation to the investigation into the activities of Akonta Mining, during a press conference in Accra on Monday, June 30, she said, “That case is also actively ongoing. Chairman Wontumi has visited us a couple of times; 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 ill.
“I believe he is now ok because we have communicated to them that he should be seeing us this week, and they have responded. So the investigations are actively ongoing.
“I must mention that he is not the only one we have arrested or are investigating; there are a number of people we consider persons of interest. Last week, for instance, he had a partner, one Akuoko, who was part of the investigations on Akonta Mining; he was also arrested here and detained.
“We have taken statements from him, and we are continuing with the investigations. So I want to assure you that when we are done, we will definitely inform the public of the final action.
Chairman Wontumi first appeared before the CID on Monday, May 26, 2025, over investigations into the operations of his company, Akonta Mining.
He earlier denied reports that he is involved in illegal mining.
After the Forestry Commission was directed to halt the activities of Akonta Mining Limited’s operation, Mr. Boasiako said he was willing to allow due process.
“I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work,” he said on his TV station, Wontumi TV.
Mr. Boasiako also responded to speculation that he is involved in illegal mining, saying, “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.
