The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Communications Director, Paul Kwabena Yandoh, has alleged that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is facing severe hardships due to his ongoing trial with the state.
According to Paul Yandoh, Chairman Wontumi’s mobile money (MoMo) number has been blocked by the government as part of actions linked to his trial.
He explained that Wontumi’s financial situation has become extremely challenging, alleging that the chairman is currently suffering financially.
Yandoh further claimed that he has personally attempted to assist Wontumi through mobile money transfers.
However, anytime money is sent, the service provider, MTN, allegedly reverses the funds back into his account a situation he described as worrying.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Ezra FM, in an interview that has since been shared on social media, he stated, “When you send the money, MTN sends it back. His account has been frozen and MTN will tell you not to send money into that account.
“So, Wontumi has been deprived a lot. Now, if he will talk, it’s only through WhatsApp. They even want to take his number from him.”
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi is currently being prosecuted by the state for allegedly engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) activities.
In the first case, the state has charged the Ashanti Regional Chairman, his company Akonta Mining Limited, and the company’s director, Kwame Antwi, with six criminal offences.
‘Trial yet to commence’ – Wontumi’s lawyer dismisses claims of 15-year jail sentence
The charge sheet indicates that Wontumi and the other accused persons face three counts of assigning mineral rights without the necessary approval and three counts of facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
In the second case, Wontumi and four other accused persons Edward Akuoko, Owusu Bempah, and Kwame Antwi (Director of Akonta Mining Limited, who is currently at large) have been charged with seven criminal offences related to alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.
The state has since dropped charges against Edward Akuoko after he agreed to serve as a prosecution witness.
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