The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is expected to appear in court today, Tuesday, October 7, 2025, to answer three mining-related charges.
This development follows his appearance before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Monday, October 6, in compliance with a directive from the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.
Chairman Wontumi was granted bail of GH₵1 million with two sureties after being interrogated by the CID. His court appearance comes after weeks of heated public debate over the alleged involvement of his company, Akonta Mining Limited, in illegal mining activities.
The Attorney General, Dr. Ayine, had earlier cautioned that the NPP Regional Chairman would be arrested if he failed to report to the CID, stressing that the charges against him had already been finalized.
“The charges against Chairman Wontumi are ready and signed. His lawyers requested that he appear on Tuesday, but I insisted he must report on Monday. If he fails to do so, I will order his arrest,” Dr. Ayine warned last Friday, October 3.
Reacting to the Attorney General’s comments, lawyer for Chairman Wontumi, Andrea P. Akuffo, described the remarks as “distasteful and unnecessary.”
“It is incorrect for anyone to suggest that we have been unresponsive to the Attorney General’s invitations. We have cooperated fully. I find the public warning about my client’s arrest quite disappointing. We do not need to unnecessarily heighten the political temperature in the country,” he stated.
Speaking to reporters after his client’s session with the CID, Mr. Akuffo commended the professionalism of the police service and said his team was ready for Tuesday’s court proceedings.
“Let us also congratulate the police system for being so professional in the discharge of their responsibility. We also take this opportunity to commend the Attorney General who has facilitated all this. We will see you in court tomorrow,” he noted.
Mr. Akuffo added that the defense team remains confident in their case, noting “We are not supposed to prove innocence. Our job is to allow the prosecution to finish, and then we will come in with our response it could be a submission of no case or a defense to the allegations,” he added.
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Source: Frederick Kofi Thompson-Quartey/ATLFMNEWS
