Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has announced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will face prosecution on Monday, October 6, 2025.
It will be recalled that on April 21 2025, the John Mahama government formally revoked Chairman Wontumi’s Akonta Mining license.
Wontumi’s Akonta Mining has been accused of galamsey operations within the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region.
Speaking during the stakeholder engagement on illegal mining assembled by President John Dramani Mahama in Accra on Friday, October 3, Dr Ayine stated, “I am happy to announce that in 2022, the police conducted a very diligent investigation in terms of Akonta Mining, but the dockets were hidden until we came to power. It was when I came in and began the investigation with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission, we were finding it difficult to get information on the case. It was then that the police themselves owned up and presented that docket to my office two months ago”.
“As we speak, the charges against Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining and five others have been signed. Currently, we are waiting for his rights to be read to him, and he has the right to remain silent before he is brought from Kumasi.
“His lawyers asked that he be brought on Tuesday, but I insisted that he be here on Monday. If he does not come on Monday, I am going to order his arrest so that he is brought to Accra and then we can start the prosecution,” Dr Ayine stated.
Also, Dominic Ayine revealed government will repeal the infamous Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which allows mining in forest reserves.
According to the Attorney General, LI 2505 will be laid in Parliament to repeal infamous LI 2462.
Dr Ayine added, “We have prepared an instrument that is LI 2505 in my office, and that will be laid in Parliament on the 14th of October”.
“The Minister and I have agreed that on the 14th of October, when Parliament resumes, we will lay that instrument to revoke the famous LI 2462,” he added.
In related news, Wontumi has revealed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has seized 15 of his luxury cars.
It will be recalled that Wontumi was arrested by EOCO following a visit to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters on Tuesday, May 27, shortly after leaving the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra.
Justice Srem-Sai later revealed that Wontumi is also being investigated for an International organised crime scheme.
The Deputy Attorney General noted that EOCO is assiduously working with our international law enforcement partners on the second strand of criminal investigations.
Chairman Wontumi was released from EOCO custody on June 2, after meeting his bail GHS50 million conditions.
According to Chairman Wontumi, EOCO has seized his vehicle for no reason.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Chairman Wontumi stated, “I have been quiet. As we are talking now, 15 of my cars have been confiscated by EOCO. I bought all the cars from Bright (sic). Bright (sic) is close to the NPP office at Asylum Down.
“He has the right registration. He paid the port fees and everything. My Bentley, Rolls-Royce, my Land Cruiser (have been taken), but I have been quiet because I don’t want to be talking about my own issues,” he said.
He added, “I want to end this conversation here. One day, God will speak for me.”