Chairman Wontumi Granted Bail, Set to Report to CID Again Over Illegal Mining Allegations

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been granted bail after appearing at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra on Monday, May 26, 2025. He is scheduled to report again to the CID at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, as investigations continue.

According to a statement from Superintendent Joseph Benefo Darkwah, Head of the Public Affairs Unit at the CID, Wontumi was cautioned on three key allegations:

Undertaking mining operations without a license

Pollution of water bodies

Entering a forest reserve without authorisation

Wontumi was accompanied by his legal team, led by former Attorney General Godfred Dame, and reportedly cooperated fully with investigators by providing a statement before being released on bail.

In a media interaction following his interrogation, Wontumi denied all allegations, insisting he does not engage in illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.

“I was invited by the police and charged with being involved in galamsey. I presented my licence to them to prove that I do not engage in illegal mining,” he said.

Wontumi also addressed claims that he operated in a forest reserve, clarifying that he had applied for a license to operate there but was officially informed by the Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, and Minerals Commission that the area was a protected zone.

“If anyone is working there now, I am not aware of it,” he stated.

The Ghana Police Service has assured the public that further updates on the case will be communicated as the investigation progresses.