The Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has provided more details regarding the ongoing trial of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
According to him, the trial of the NPP chairman is not a political persecution by the ruling government, as many have suggested.
Speaking in an interview on Okay FM on October 20, 2025, Mustapha Gbande stated that Wontumi’s trial was orchestrated by members of his own party.
He alleged that some top NPP officials have been leaking information to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to facilitate his prosecution.
“As for Chairman Wontumi’s trial, his own party leaders are behind it. Wontumi has not had any fight with NDC members. We all saw how the NPP held a press conference and told Ghanaians that all the road contracts awarded to Wontumi in the Ashanti Region were not executed.
“So, what sin has the NDC committed?” he asked.
He explained that certain influential figures within the NPP feel they did not benefit from the previous administration and as a result, they are now “selling out” their own members to the government.
Gbande further disclosed that some individuals with presidential ambitions within the NPP are also involved in the leaks because they believe Wontumi has accumulated wealth and is using it to finance their rivals within the party.
“When Wontumi went for a loan to farm maize, was any NDC member there? When he went for Akonta Mining to mine on river bodies, was I there? It is because he was enjoying the proceeds alone and neglecting others that is why all these issues came up. Some people with presidential ambitions are even part of those leaking information because they feel he has acquired wealth and using it to support other candidate.”
He added, “For us, we are ready to receive all the information. When they bring the evidence, we will take it.”
Chairman Wontumi was released from police custody on October 10, 2025, after meeting his GH¢10 million bail condition with two sureties, one of which had to be justified with landed property.
His counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed his release in an interview with the media.
Wontumi’s release followed his rearrest on October 7, 2025, over fresh allegations linked to illegal mining activities.
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The charges against Chairman Wontumi emerged after his appearance at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in Accra on October 6, 2025, in line with a directive from the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.
Dr Ayine had earlier instructed Wontumi to report to the CID for questioning, warning that failure to comply would result in his arrest and prosecution.
Following his compliance, Wontumi was initially granted bail but was rearrested a day later after being officially charged by the state in a second case involving allegations of illegal mining (galamsey).
Reports suggest that the new charges also involve other individuals: Edward Akuoko, Owusu Bempah, and Kwame Antwi, the Director of Akonta Mining Limited, who is currently at large.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Criminal Court at the Accra High Court, where further criminal proceedings are expected to continue.
AM/AE
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