The Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced that charges against the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and his company, Akonta Mining, have been finalized and signed.
According to Dr. Ayine, Mr. Boasiako has been directed to appear in Accra on Monday, October 6, 2025, for the charges to be formally read.
He cautioned that failure to comply would result in his arrest.
“The charges against Wontumi and Akonta Mining have been signed. He should be here on Monday. If he doesn’t come by Monday, I will order his arrest, and his charges will be read to him,” the Attorney-General said during President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with civil society groups on illegal mining in Accra on Friday, October 3.
The development comes amid ongoing investigations into the activities of Akonta Mining.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, confirmed that probes were progressing and disclosed that another individual linked to the company had already been arrested.
She explained that while Chairman Wontumi had previously cooperated with investigators, he had recently delayed further appearances on health grounds, a claim backed by his lawyer.
Nonetheless, DCOP Donkor assured the public that “investigations are actively ongoing” and that the outcome would be communicated in due course.
The CID has also arrested and taken statements from one of Mr. Boasiako’s business associates, identified as Akuoko, in connection with the case.
Chairman Wontumi was first invited by the CID on May 26, 2025, and attended with his legal team, which included former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and former Asante-Akim North MP Andy Appiah-Kubi.
He has consistently denied engaging in illegal mining. Speaking on his television network, Wontumi TV, he insisted: “I am not into galamsey. I have a large-scale company, which Akonta Mining is under. All the required documents I have, I will make available.”
Mr Boasiako further pledged his willingness to cooperate fully with investigators, adding, “I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work.”