The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is now in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), following his earlier appearance at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra.
Chairman Wontumi had reported to the CID on Monday, May 26, in response to a summons over allegations tied to illegal mining. He was officially cautioned for alleged offenses including operating a mining site without a license, polluting water bodies, and unlawfully entering a forest reserve.
He appeared again on Tuesday, May 27, to continue assisting with investigations, but was subsequently taken in by EOCO for further questioning. The reasons for the transfer to EOCO have not been publicly disclosed, and his legal team—led by former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame—has yet to comment.
In a press release issued on Monday, the CID confirmed that Wontumi had cooperated fully, provided a written statement, and was granted bail with instructions to return the next day. His compliance reportedly continued into Tuesday’s proceedings.
Chairman Wontumi has strongly denied the allegations. Speaking to journalists on Monday, he refuted claims of involvement in illegal mining and dismissed reports linking him to suspicious payments from COCOBOD. According to him, all his mining operations are legitimate and adhere to legal protocols.
The high-profile nature of the case and the transfer to EOCO signal the gravity of the ongoing probe. Meanwhile, the political implications of the case remain under close watch, as the NPP regional executive’s legal battle unfolds.
