Andy Appiah-Kubi, Chairman Wontumi’s attorney, arrives at the CID headquarters.
Along with his attorneys Andy Appiah-Kubi, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Region Chair Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) arrived at the CID Headquarters today, Monday, October 6, to have his charges read to him in connection with his Akonta Mining firm’s alleged involvement in illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey).
Chairman Wontumi shall report to the CID today, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine announced on Friday. He warned that he would be arrested if he did not report to Accra on Monday.
“The charges against Wontumi, Akonta Mining have been signed,” Dr. Ayine stated during President John Dramani Mahama’s meeting with civil society organizations on galamsey in Accra on Friday, October 3. On Monday, he ought to arrive. I’ll order his arrest and read his charges to him if he doesn’t show up by Monday.
Recall that DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID), declared that inquiries into Chairman Wontumi’s company, Akonta Mining, were still in progress.
According to the head of CID, another individual has been taken into custody in connection with the case.
During a news conference in Accra on Monday, June 30, she was asked about the current status of the investigation into Akonta Mining’s operations and responded, “That case is also actively ongoing.” Chairman Wontumi has made a few visits to our place and is actually scheduled to return this week. Regretfully, his attorney sent us a letter stating that he was ill.
He should be visiting us this week, and we have informed them of this, so I think he is now comfortable. Thus, the investigations are still in progress.
He is not the only individual we have detained or are looking into; there are other more we believe to be persons of interest. For example, he had a companion, Akuoko, who was involved in the Akonta Mining investigations last week; he was also taken into custody and arrested here.
He has provided comments, and the investigations are still ongoing. Therefore, I want to reassure you that we will undoubtedly notify the public of the final action once we are finished.
On Monday, May 26, 2025, Chairman Wontumi made his initial appearance before the CID over inquiries into the business practices of Akonta Mining.
Chairman Wontumi was joined by Andy Appiah-Kubi, a former member of parliament for Asante-Akim North, and his attorney, former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
Reports that he was engaged in illicit mining were previously refuted by him.
Mr. Boasiako stated that he was prepared to enable due process after the Forestry Commission was ordered to stop Akonta Mining Limited’s operations.
“I’m urging them to apply the law. He stated on his TV station, Wontumi TV, “We should let the law do its job and let them finish their investigations.”
In response to rumors that he engages in illicit mining, Mr. Boasiako stated, “I want to tell the public that I am not into galamsey.”
“Akonta Mining is a division of my enormous corporation. I will make all of the necessary paperwork available,” he continued.