Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has boldly stated he is not engaged in illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
Chairman Wontumi in an interview with journalists after his interrogation by the CID stated,
“I was invited by the police and charged with being involved in galamsey. I presented my licence which is a lease to them to prove that I do not engage in illegal mining or galamsey.
They also claimed I was working in the forest, but I told them it wasn’t me. If they have any evidence, they should show it to me. Some time ago I applied for a license there but the Forestry Commission, the Lands Commission and the Mines Commission said they have given the place to the Forestry Commission to look after.
“So, if anyone is working there now, I am not aware of it, it is not in my name” he added.
He further denied the allegation of receiving a GH₵50 million payment from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) during his final days in office.
According to Chairman Wontumi, the allegations are absolutely untrue.
On Monday, May 26, shortly after being granted bail in a separate case involving alleged illegal mining, Chairman Wontumi told the media, “It is absolutely untrue that I collected money from COCOBOD”.
“If you are constructing a road, the government doesn’t give you the money upfront—you use your own funds”, he added.
“The contractor is reimbursed only after the road is completed. At that point, engineers from the Ghana Highways Authority and COCOBOD assess the project and value it based on the agreed rates”, he explained.
Wontumi added that the contract specified payment within 28 days of project completion.
However, he asserted that COCOBOD took nearly three years to fulfil its financial obligation.
“So COCOBOD cannot claim they do not owe me,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi has been granted bail and is set to report to the Investigations Department (CID) again today, May 27, 2025.
Superintendent Joseph Benefo Darkwah, Head of the Public Affairs Unit at the CID in a press release revealed Wontumi was cautioned on three allegations:
- Undertaking mining operations without a license
- Pollution of water bodies
- Entering a forest reserve without authorisation
The Police statement added that Wontumi cooperated fully with investigators, provided his statement, and was subsequently granted bail.
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— KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) May 26, 2025
