ATTORNEY-GENERAL ORDERS CHAIRMAN WONTUMI TO REPORT ON MONDAY OR FACE ARREST

Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine has directed Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to report to Accra on Monday, October 6, 2025, to answer charges filed against him and his mining company, Akonta Mining.

Speaking at a stakeholder dialogue on illegal mining in Accra on Friday, Dr. Ayine revealed that the charges had been completed and signed, warning that failure to comply would lead to Wontumi’s arrest.

“The charges against Wontumi, Akonta Mining, have been signed. He should be here on Monday. If he doesn’t come, I will order his arrest,” the Attorney-General stated.

The directive follows ongoing investigations into Akonta Mining’s operations. The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, confirmed that probes were still active, with one associate of the company already arrested and interrogated.

DCOP Donkor noted that Wontumi had engaged investigators on several occasions but had recently delayed appearances due to ill health, a claim his lawyer has also raised.

Wontumi, who was first invited by the CID in May 2025 alongside his legal team, including former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, has denied any involvement in illegal mining. Speaking on his Wontumi TV station, he insisted his company operates legally.

“I am not into galamsey. I have a large-scale company, which Akonta Mining is under. All the required documents I have, and I will make them available,” he said, while pledging full cooperation with investigators.