Chairman Wontumi Meets With CID After Botched Raid, Godfred Dame Leads His Legal Team

• Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, has met with the Criminal Investigations Department for questioning
• Boasiako's legal team has been bolstered by former Attorney General Godfred Dame, who accompanied him
• Some National Security operatives and police officers stormed the residence of Boasiako on May 23, 2025

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, has met with the Criminal Investigations Department at the Police Headquarters in Accra for questioning.

Boasiako's legal team is being led by former Attorney General Godfred Dame.

He was also accompanied by the former Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, to the May 23 meeting.

It remains unclear why the controversial New Patriotic Party politician is being questioned.

Boasiako’s legal team is expected to address the media following the engagement with the Criminal Investigations Department.

Appiah-Kubi told the press that Boasiako is yet to be charged.

He was meeting the CID as some other NPP members faced the law because of alleged crimes.

For example, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, a former Board Chairperson of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, was in a High Court in Accra in the case in which he has been accused of conspiring to cause financial loss of $2 million to the state in the sky train project.

The meeting comes after a combined team of National Security operatives and police officers stormed the residence of Boasiako on May 23.

Boasiako accused President John Mahama of political persecution, following the raid.

He further called on Ghanaians to back him amid the government scrutiny.

Dame is currently serving as Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo's lawyer in her fight against her possible impeachment.

He has been faced with conflict of interest concerns because he served in the Akufo-Addo administration, which appointed her.

What has Wontumi been charged with?

Boasiako has been charged with illegal mining-related offences.

He spoke to the press after later being granted bail by the Criminal Investigations Department.

“I was invited by the police and charged with being involved in galamsey. I presented my license to them to prove that I do not engage in illegal mining or galamsey. They also claimed I was working in the forest, but I told them it wasn’t me. If they have any evidence, they should show it to me.”

He also explained that while he had previously applied for a license to operate in a forest area, the Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, and Minerals Commission had informed him that the land was designated for protection.

Chairman Wontumi also strongly denied reports suggesting he received a payment of GHS50 million from the Ghana Cocoa Board in the latter part of 2024.

This followed allegations that his company, Hallmark Engineering, was paid a large sum by the Ghana Cocoa Board despite a directive from then-incoming Chief of Staff Julius Debrah to halt contract payments during the transition period after the 2024 election.

Wontumi's illegal mining concerns

Boasiako has been under more scrutiny after the government revoked the license of his mining company, Akonta Mining Limited.

The state accused Akonta Mining of being engaged in illegal mining.

Akonta Mining has long been linked to illegal mining activities, especially in forest reserves. Boasiako has denied these claims.

In 2022, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey called for the arrest and prosecution of Boasiako.

It said there was evidence that Akonta Mining violated the Minerals and Mining Act by mining closely along the banks of the Tano River.

The coalition also accused the previous Nana Akufo-Addo government of not showing a commitment to truly fight illegal mining.

President Akufo-Addo notably defended Boasiako and Akonta Mining at the time.

General Legal Council petitioned to punish Dame

YEN.com.gh reported on May 22 that the General Legal Council was petitioned to sanction Dame for alleged professional misconduct.

The misconduct relates to his handling of Richard Jakpa when he was a witness in the controversial ambulance case.

The complaint, lodged by one Daniel Kwame Ofosu-Appiah, alleged ethical breaches by Dame after he was found to have been in touch with Jakpa, one of the suspects in the case, outside the hearing.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh