The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has shockingly claimed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has targeted him.
According to Chairman Wontumi, the NDC has targeted him because they are afraid of his National Chairman’s ambition.
Wontumi TV quoted Bernard Antwi Boasiako to have stated “My National Chairmanship ambition has put fear in the NDC, so they have targeted me”.
His comments come after the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah revealed that he has authorized the Minerals Commission to take steps to revoke the lease of Akonta Mining Co. Ltd with immediate effect.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman Wontumi of the NPP is known to be the owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited which is said to have been operating illegally in the Nimri Tano Forest reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region.
The Lands Minister in a press conference stated, “Some interviews conducted with a few residents indicate that the modus operandi of Akonta Mining is to use force to enter and destroy even the farmlands and produce of poor farmers in the area.
“Armed with this intel, on the eve of Good Friday (17th April 2025) an intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission led to the raid of six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining”.
He added, “ Armed with this intel, on the eve of Good Friday (17th April 2025) an intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission led to the raid of six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining.
In light of the overwhelming evidence, I have authorized the Minerals Commission to take steps to revoke the lease of Akonta Mining Co. Ltd with immediate effect.
I have directed that forestry officials connected to these illegalities be immediately interdicted pending further investigations and prosecution. The security agencies have been notified to investigate security officers who have had dealings with Akonta Mining in this particular Forest Reserve”.
Meanwhile, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has frozen all accounts of Chairman Wontumi as per a document sighted it acted in accordance with Section 56(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020.
“Freezing of accounts – 1. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi) 2. Akonta Mining 3. Hallmark Civil Engineering Limited.
“In accordance with Section 56(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), you are hereby directed to immediately freeze all accounts in relation to and in association with the above-named subjects pending further directives,” parts of a letter from the FIC read.
