The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has said he is not involved in illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.
As the December polls draws nearer, some member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) including the Flagbearer John Mahama are sending shivers down the spine of some members of the NPP alleged to be involve in galamsey,
However, Wontumi has been quoted saying “Can you push Wontumi? Even illegal and legal what is the difference? The difference is a document. So, as a veteran miner, I don’t know how to get documents done?” Wontumi questioned.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP has now come out boldly to deny claims of his involvement in illegal mining.
Chairman Wontumi is known to be the owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited that 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 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.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has come out to defend the owner of Akonta Mining, he claimed that Chairman Wontumi is not involve in galamsey.
