The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has addressed allegations regarding a GH¢50 million payment from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) following his interrogation at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Wontumi’s appearance at the CID was in response to an official invitation to answer questions about allegations of illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.
However, after the interrogation, journalists questioned him about a separate controversy involving a reported GH¢50 million payment linked to a cocoa road contract, as widely publicised as the reason for a failed raid at his private residence last week.
The publication claimed that a security raid at Wontumi’s residence was connected to this payment, which was allegedly made by COCOBOD in the last days of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
In response to the journalists’ queries, Wontumi stated that the CID did not question him on the said issue. He however, denied any undue appropriation of COCOBOD funds.
He explained the nature of his contract with COCOBOD, stating, “It is not true that I have unduly taken COCOBOD money. Whenever you are contracted to construct a road, it is not the government that gives you money. It is you, the contractor, that will pre-finance the road. When you are done, the Highways Authority and COCOBOD will come to value the road with their engineers, after which they will pay you according to the agreed rate. We have what is called a certificate, which they will raise for you.”
Wontumi further clarified the payment timeline, noting, “It was contained in my contract with COCOBOD that within 28 days they should pay me, but after it was raised, it took them about three years to pay me. So, COCOBOD cannot tell me that they were not owing Wontumi. Everybody’s success is determined by their labour, and so I do not think working is a sin.”
Earlier reports suggested that the security raid at Wontumi’s home was over the GH¢50 million payment by COCOBOD, a claim that Wontumi refuted by emphasizing the legitimacy of the contract and the delay in payment.
Meanwhile, Wontumi is expected to report back at the CID headquarters today, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, after being granted bail on Monday.
