The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has denied claims that its officers ransacked the Tema property of former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
In a news release dated November 9, 2026, EOCO said officers from the Office and officers from the Lands Commission visited a property in Tema belonging to Chairman Wontumi to conduct a valuation exercise.
According to EOCO, it got the said property frozen by a Court Order last year.
“As part of due process, EOCO and Lands Commission officials were at the property to pick the coordinates and measurements to enable Lands Commission to conduct a professional valuation,” the statement said.
EOCO said the activity was completed in less than 10 minutes without any incident.
“This is what has been characterised as ransacking of Wontumi’s house,” EOCO said.
The Office urged the general public to disregard false publications circulating within the media space about the said activity.
The statement was signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Education for the Executive Director.
Background
The clarification follows an allegation made earlier on November 9 by the spokesperson for Chairman Wontumi, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah.
3News reported that Dr Boakye-Danquah alleged on Daily Brief on TV3 on November 9, 2026, that a team from EOCO had invaded the home of Boasiako to conduct a search.
According to him, the family told him the team said they were sent to check the properties he has. “They walked around the house. They spent about 45 minutes in the house,” he was quoted as saying.
The latest EOCO release is therefore the Office’s first official response to the claim.
Ongoing Legal Battles
The allegation comes at a time when Boasiako is facing multiple legal battles.
He is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after he was convicted in July 2026 for facilitating illegal mining on a concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
3News reported on July 20, 2026, that an Accra High Court convicted Chairman Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining, after finding them guilty of illegal mining offences at his Samreboi concession. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
He has filed an appeal against the conviction and sentence.
Separately, 3News reported on October 30, 2026, that EOCO has filed an application at the High Court seeking to confiscate properties belonging to Boasiako and companies associated with him, alleging that the assets were acquired with proceeds of crime and are therefore tainted.
The application, filed on August 20 under the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010 (Act 804) and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), is asking the court to permit EOCO to seize several properties, including the Akonta Mining Limited concession, mining equipment, landed properties, vehicles, investments and GH¢50 million invested in Treasury Bills through Paradise Insurance Limited.
EOCO’s case is anchored partly on the alleged fraudulent transaction involving Ghana EXIM Bank in 2018 in which the former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman is on trial for.
