Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has strongly refuted claims linking him to illegal mining activities, often referred to as galamsey.
After being questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Wontumi presented his official mining license as proof of his lawful operations.
“I was summoned by the police and accused of involvement in galamsey. I showed them my license to confirm that my mining activities are legal. They also alleged I was working in the forest, but I denied this and challenged them to provide any evidence they have,” he said.
He also clarified that although he had once applied for a license to mine in a forest area, authorities including the Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, and Minerals Commission informed him that the land was protected. “If anyone is mining there now, I am not aware of it,” he added.
Additionally, Chairman Wontumi rejected rumors that he received GHS50 million from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) during the closing days of the Akufo-Addo government. These claims suggested his company, Hallmark Engineering, was paid despite instructions from the then-incoming Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to halt contract payments during the transition.
