The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has frozen all accounts of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The FIC, as per a document sighted is acting 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)
- Akonta Mining
- 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.
This follows the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah revealing 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.
There have been calls for the prosecution of Chairman Wontumi for his operation in the forest reserve.
According to the former Akufo-Addo government, the mining company has a lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi but stated the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve.
Former President Akufo-Addo has also come out to defend the owner of Akonta Mining, he claims Chairman Wontumi is not involved in galamsey.
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.
The operation in Compartment 49, which began at 5 a.m. and lasted a whopping 12 hours, resulted in:
* 51 arrests (8 Chinese, 39 Ghanaian men, 4 Ghanaian women)
* Seizure of about 30 excavators, 5 recovered and impounded at the operation base
* 2 Pump-action guns loaded with 5 and 2 rounds of BB cartridges each, 1 single-barrel gun retrieved
* Confiscation of 2 Toyota Hilux pickups, 1 Toyota RAV4, 4 motorbikes, and a cache of mining equipment
All suspects have been transported to Accra, in custody pending prosecution.
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.
The Attorney-General has also since been briefed and has taken over the investigations for further action”.
