By Daniel Bampoe
The political battlefield between New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and the National Democratic Congress, NDC led by President John Dramani Mahama has once again erupted—this time fueled by allegations of illegal mining (galamsey), a controversial GH₵50 million COCOBOD payment, and deep-rooted political rivalry dating back over a decade ago.
Chairman Wontumi, the influential Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, has long been a prominent figure not only in politics but also in Ghana’s mining sector.
At the peak of his business operations, Wontumi claimed he earned close to $1 million daily from his gold mining ventures.
But his rise was interrupted in 2013 during Mahama’s previous administration, when over 500 excavators belonging to his company were reportedly seized and destroyed.
According to Wontumi, this action decimated his enterprise and marked the beginning of a sustained political vendetta.
That episode, which he described as economic sabotage, laid the foundation for what has now evolved into a full-blown political war—a clash between an opposition powerhouse and a sitting President.
National Security Standoff in Kumasi
The latest chapter unfolded on May 23, 2025, when heavily armed operatives from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), acting on a court warrant, stormed Wontumi’s residence in Kumasi to conduct a search linked to illegal mining investigations.
The operation, however, ended in an unexpected standoff.
Wontumi, alerted by the arrival of the operatives, raised an alarm that drew scores of NPP supporters to his home.
Tensions rose quickly, forcing NIB officials to back down after negotiations with his legal team.
In exchange, Wontumi agreed to present himself to the police voluntarily—a promise he fulfilled on Monday, May 26 when he appeared at the CID headquarters in Accra.
Interrogation and Bail
After hours of questioning by investigators, Chairman Wontumi was granted bail with two sureties.
He told journalists that he had submitted all necessary documentation to prove that his company, Akonta Mining Ltd, operated within the law and held valid leases.
“I am not a galamsey operator. I have never mined in any forest reserve illegally,” he asserted.
“This is clearly a politically motivated attack to tarnish my image and cripple my businesses—again.”
Government Revokes Mining Lease
The allegations against Akonta Mining were amplified when Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah announced the cancellation of the company’s mining lease, citing unauthorized operations in protected forest zones.
Wontumi has filed a lawsuit against the government, arguing that the termination of his license lacked legal merit and was orchestrated to silence a prominent political opponent.
His legal team insists that all permits were obtained legally and that the company had complied with Ghana’s mining regulations.
COCOBOD Payment Allegations
Compounding the tension is an allegation over an alleged GH₵50 million payment Wontumi’s construction firm, Hallmark Engineering, is said to have received from COCOBOD during the final days of the Akufo-Addo administration.
The payment, reportedly made in defiance of a transition directive by the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah to halt all contract disbursements, has sparked public outrage.
Wontumi, however, has categorically denied any wrongdoing.
“I never took any illegal money. We pre-financed the road project, and government reimbursed us only after engineers inspected and certified the work,” he explained.
According to him, COCOBOD delayed payments for nearly three years—only honoring its obligations after long periods of silence. “So how can anyone claim I was paid wrongly?” he asked.
“I’m Not a Criminal, I’m a Politician”
Reacting to the latest wave of investigations, Wontumi took a defiant stance, questioning why the state was going after him so aggressively.
“Was I ever a Vice President? A minister? A CEO?” he asked.
“I am only a regional chairman of a political party. Why then is this government trying to destroy me?”
He also accused the Mahama-led administration of freezing his accounts and stifling his business operations.
“Even the bank account I rely on has been shut down,” he said. “This is not justice. This is a political witch-hunt.”
Wontumi directly confronted President Mahama, accusing him of weaponizing the state against him.
“Now that you’ve become President, does that mean I’m no longer a Ghanaian?” he asked rhetorically.
He went further to rally NPP supporters, framing the events as an assault on democracy and opposition voices.
“Ghanaians, rise! All NPP supporters must rise. Mahama is targeting me because of politics,” he declared.
Brewing Political Storm
The unfolding saga has deepened Ghana’s polarized political climate, with the NPP accusing the Mahama administration of using law enforcement as a tool to silence opposition figures.
The NDC, on the other hand, insists that no one is above the law and that Wontumi must face the consequences if found culpable.
Political analysts warn that this case could set a precedent for how the state deals with politically connected individuals accused of illegal mining—an issue that has plagued successive administrations.
