Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has confirmed that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will face prosecution on Monday, October 6, 2025, over his alleged involvement in illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining.
According to Dr. Ayine, his office has completed processes to formally charge Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining, and five others following investigations that revealed encroachment on forest reserves without the necessary permits.
It can be recalled that on April 21, 2025, the government revoked Akonta Mining’s license after revelations by Lands Minister Armah-Kofi Buah that the company, though licensed to operate off-reserve, had been engaged in galamsey operations within the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region.
The company has since denied the allegations.
Addressing civil society organisations at the Flagstaff House on Friday, October 3, Dr. Ayine disclosed that the case had been delayed because crucial dockets were concealed under the previous administration.
“I am happy to announce that in 2022, the police conducted a very diligent investigation in terms of Akonta Mining, but the dockets were hidden until we came to power. It was when I came in and began the investigation with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission, we were finding it difficult to get information on the case. It was then that the police themselves owned up and presented that docket to my office two months ago,” he revealed.
He explained that while Chairman Wontumi’s lawyers requested a Tuesday appearance, he had directed that the accused appear on Monday instead.
“As we speak, the charges against Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining and five others have been signed. Currently, we are waiting for his rights to be read to him, and he has the right to remain silent before he is brought from Kumasi.
“His lawyers asked that he be brought on Tuesday, but I insisted that he be here on Monday. If he does not come on Monday, I am going to order his arrest so that he is brought to Accra and then we can start the prosecution,” Dr. Ayine stated.
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