Chairman Wontumi arrested by EOCO

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, has been arrested. He is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) made the arrest.

Wontumi was at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters on May 27. After leaving, EOCO operatives intercepted him outside.

EOCO has not yet released an official statement about his arrest. The specifics of the investigation are still unclear. Wontumi's legal team has not commented on this matter.

Earlier, Wontumi was granted bail and was to report back to CID today. Superintendent Joseph Benefo Darkwah from CID stated that Wontumi faced three allegations:

1. Mining without a license.
2. Polluting water bodies.
3. Entering a forest reserve without permission.

The police noted that Wontumi cooperated with investigators and provided his statement before being granted bail.

After his interrogation, Wontumi spoke to journalists. He said he was invited by police regarding galamsey activities. He presented his license to prove he does not engage in illegal mining.

He denied working in a forest area and challenged anyone with evidence to show it to him. He also refuted claims of receiving GH₵50 million from COCOBOD before leaving office.

Wontumi insisted these allegations are false. On May 26, after another case involving illegal mining, he told reporters about COCOBOD payments.

He explained that contractors use their own funds for road construction initially. The government reimburses them only after project completion based on assessments by engineers.

Wontumi claimed COCOBOD took nearly three years to pay him what they owed. Therefore, he argued that COCOBOD cannot deny their debt to him.

See how Chairman Wontumi was picked up by EOCO after his CID interrogation below:

[Video link]