Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been granted bail with two sureties by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
The bail follows his appearance before the CID in Accra on Monday, May 26, amidst allegations of involvement in illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
The development comes just days after a joint team of national security operatives and police officers attempted to arrest Chairman Wontumi at his residence on Friday, May 23. The attempted arrest sparked public outrage and drew a significant show of support from NPP supporters, who gathered in protest outside his home.
During his appearance at the CID, Chairman Wontumi was formally charged with alleged involvement in galamsey.
However, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating, “I presented my license to them to prove that I do not engage in illegal mining.”
According to him, the allegations stem from a misunderstanding regarding his application for a license to operate in a forest area, which was subsequently denied by the Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, and Minerals Commission due to the land being reserved for protection.
Chairman Wontumi also addressed claims regarding financial dealings with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), asserting that allegations of improper fund collection were “absolutely untrue.”
He explained the payment process for road construction contracts, stating, “If you are constructing a road, the government doesn’t give you money upfront—you use your own money. The Ghana Highways Authority and COCOBOD engineers later assess the road and pay you based on agreed rates.”
He further emphasized that his contract with COCOBOD stipulated payment within 28 days, but it took nearly three years to receive payment. “So COCOBOD cannot claim they don’t owe me,” he added.
Chairman Wontumi’s bail has been set with two sureties, and he is expected to cooperate further with the CID’s investigations.