Is Chairman Wontumi involved in illegal mining? Here’s what we know

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Monday granted bail to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after questioning him over alleged involvement in illegal mining.

However, less than 24 hours later, he’s been reported to be in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for another round of questioning. Details remain scanty about why the anti-graft agency detained him, but the police are said to have nailed him with charges related to illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey.

The investigation focuses on his company, Akonta Mining, which has been accused of illegally operating in forest reserves, polluting rivers, and mining without a license.

Under Ghana’s mining laws, individuals convicted of illegal mining face up to 25 years in prison.

Mr. Boasiako has denied the allegations, claiming that he submitted documentation to the CID demonstrating his non-involvement in illegal mining and clarifying that his operations were not within any forest reserves.

His interrogation follows an attempt by National Security and police operatives to arrest him at his Kumasi residence on May 23, 2025. The attempted arrest led to a standoff and drew a crowd of supporters to his home. Subsequently, Chairman Wontumi voluntarily reported to the CID headquarters in Accra, where he was formally charged and later released on bail.

The 48-year-old controversial politician, who has publicly boasted about making money from mining, is no stranger to disputes within the sector.

In this report, Fact-check Ghana presents the available facts about Chairman Wontumi’s company, Akonta Mining’s involvement in illegal mining.

Activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve

Months before the government scrapped guidelines limiting mining in forest reserves in November 2022, Akonta Mining Company Limited was already felling trees and digging in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. On September 30, 2022, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources declared the company’s operations illegal.

“Our records show that Akonta Mining Ltd, on August 25, 2022, applied for a Mining Lease to undertake mining operations in the said Forest Reserve [Tano Nimiri Forest]. By a Ministerial Directive, all reconnaissance, prospecting and/or exploratory activities in forest reserves are suspended, except under exceptional circumstances,” the ministry stated.

“Although this directive does not affect mining leases already granted, Akonta Mining’s application has not been approved. Accordingly, any alleged activity being undertaken by the company in the forest reserve is illegal.”

Akonta Mining, registered in 2010 for mining and exploration, applied to mine in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve just one month after LI 2462 was gazetted in July 2022. At the time, the Minerals Commission had forwarded the application to the Ministry for possible approval.

Despite lacking the necessary regulatory permits, the company allegedly began mining until an investigative report by Joy News journalist Erastus Asare-Donkor exposed its activities.

According to data from the Minerals Commission, Chairman Wontumi currently holds two other active mining leases in the Amenfi District.

Beyond Akonta Mining, Chairman Wontumi has a 50% stake in Akosdwomo Mining Limited, which also holds multiple mining and prospecting leases, according to the Minerals Commission’s database.

Multiple media reports (here, here and here), confirm that the Office of the Special Prosecutor has been investigating Chairman Wontumi on issues related to galamsey.

Crackdown on Akonta Mining Since 2022

Since September 22, 2022, the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources have issued statements (here, and here)  confirming that Akonta Mining was operating illegally in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

On that date, the Commission stated that the company lacked the necessary documentation to operate in the reserve.

Later, on October 2, 2022, it issued another statement indicating that Akonta had two mining leases in the Sambreboi area in the Western Region. These were granted following a reconnaissance license in June 2011 and a prospecting license in December 2012.

Prospecting licenses under Ghana’s mining laws are valid for three years and may be renewed once for another three years. The Minerals Commission did not indicate whether Akonta’s prospecting license was renewed after 2015.

According to the Commission, the company was granted two concessions on July 23, 2021—one valid for 10 years, the other for 30 years. Fact-check Ghana’s checks show that both concessions are outside forest reserves.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Akonta Mining has no mining lease, mineral rights and/or permit to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. Steps are currently being taken to enforce the Minister’s directive issued on 30th September 2022,” the Commission said.

Fact-Check Ghana’s investigation found that as of September 2024, neither Akonta Mining nor Akosdwomo Mining have environmental permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Even though Akonta Mining applied for a lease in the forest reserve, the Forestry Commission data Fact-Check Ghana obtained, as of October 2024, reported that no such permit had been granted.

Despite the public stance of the Ministry and the Minerals Commission against Akonta Mining’s operations, then-President Nana Akufo-Addo defended the company in January 2023, stating:

“I want to assure you all that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any form of illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak.”

Calls for accountability followed, with prominent Ghanaians including Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey (Media Coalition Against Galamsey), legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, CDD Fellow Kwame Asiedu, and Edem Senanu (Citizens Movement Against Corruption) petitioning the CID (here and here)

However, no outcome was announced.

In 2025, after a change in government that saw the NPP voted out, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources renewed its actions against Akonta Mining.

On April 21, 2025, Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah directed the Minerals Commission to revoke Akonta Mining’s license, describing the company as a “criminal syndicate” that had allegedly sold parts of the Tano Nimiri Forest to illegal miners.

“We deployed a team of undercover investigators. What they uncovered was a well-organised scheme of destruction,” the Minister said.

He alleged that a company representative, one Mr. Ayisi (not the Minerals Commission Chief Executive), acted as a liaison, collecting fees and granting illegal access. The concessions were reportedly subleased to individuals like “Mr. Henry” and “Shark,” who managed the illegal operations in the Aboi Forest Reserve and along the Tano River.

“As part of the arrangement, Akonta Mining was to receive weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold,” the Minister claimed.

On April 22, 2025, the Minerals Commission affirmed:

“Akonta’s three mining leases have not been ratified, and the company has no environmental or operating permits.”

The Commission clarified:

• Akonta applied for a prospecting license for the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve but later withdrew the application.
• A mining lease application was submitted on August 25, 2022, but was not signed by the previous Minister.
• As of now, Akonta has no mining lease, no forest entry permit, and no legal basis to mine in the forest reserve.

According to the Mineral Commission, for any lawful mining operation to be undertaken, the company must have:

• A Ratified Mining Lease, which is a requirement under Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution.

• An Environmental Permit issued by the Environmental Protection Authority, and

• An Operating Permit, issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines of the Commission

In addition, a Forest Entry Permit is required if mining activities are

to be undertaken in the forest.

The evidence overwhelmingly shows that Akonta Mining held no valid concessions or permits to operate in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. It lacked the necessary approvals from the EPA, the Forestry Commission, and the Minerals Commission.

Despite earlier political protection, both the regulator and the Ministry, across different administrations, have repeatedly denounced the company’s activities as illegal mining.