Chairman Wontumi is currently the scrutiny of both and international and local enforcement agencies
From the visit by officials from the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) to his Kumasi mansion, his voluntary appearance at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, and his subsequent arrest by the task force of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and self-proclaimed “Governor of Kumasi,” has seen his once-formidable influence significantly diminished by state authorities due to his alleged involvement in a spectrum of illicit activities.
The Wontumi saga, as it has become, has captivated national attention due to a confluence of factors, including the unusual protest march by members of the minority caucus in Parliament, followed by their sit-in at the entrance of EOCO’s headquarters.
This article aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of the Wontumi saga with details from sources involved.
Wontumi and the money laundering allegations
In February, news emerged that the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), led by the esteemed Ing. Kwadwo Twum Boafo, had frozen the accounts of Chairman Wontumi and his Akonta Mining Company. Initial suspicions pointed to alleged illegal mining activities of Akonta Mining as the basis for the freeze, but while these suspicions were not wrong, they were just the tip of the iceberg.
According to sources within the FIC, Wontumi has been the subject of a joint investigation by authorities from the United States, Canada, and Ghana, focusing on allegations of money laundering and car theft.
The decision to freeze his accounts was not made unilaterally by the FIC, Ghana’s premier anti-money laundering agency, but in collaboration with Canadian and American investigators.
EOCO sources indicate that the Canadian government is even ready to initiate extradition processes for Wontumi to face charges as the alleged ringleader of a car theft syndicate.
Wontumi and the EXIM Bank loan
Another strand of the investigation centers on a $10 million maize farming loan that Wontumi secured from the Ghana EXIM Bank under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.
Investigations reveal that the funds were diverted, with no evidence of plantations or harvests to substantiate the investment.
When EXIM Bank officials sought clarification, they were reportedly directed to warehouses of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, where they were shown sacks of maize lacking any traceability records.
A source recounted an incident where Wontumi, during one such meeting, became irate, directing profanities and threats at senior EXIM Bank officials.
Additionally, Wontumi is implicated in securing multiple road contracts under the COCOBOD road projects in the Ashanti, Western, and Western North regions, with no verifiable evidence of completed work.
Wontumi’s Akonta Mining and the Galamsey Controversy
The activities of Wontumi’s Akonta Mining Company in the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region constitute another critical strand of the saga.
Following the closure of the mining company, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), acting on directives from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, launched a probe that reportedly uncovered startling revelations.
From the above, the Wontumi saga despite attempts of political spins, encapsulates a complex web of alleged criminal activities, ranging from money laundering and car theft to the misappropriation of public funds and illegal mining.
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, currently faces intense scrutiny from both domestic and international authorities, with the Financial Intelligence Centre, EOCO, and foreign investigators collaborating to unravel the extent of his alleged misconduct.
The unfolding saga goes beyond the political influence to also highlight systemic issues in governance, resource management, and accountability in Ghana.
GA/KA
