FIC freezes Chairman Wontumi’s bank accounts over suspected financial misconduct

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has frozen all bank accounts linked to Bernard Antwi Boasiako. He is commonly known as Chairman Wontumi. His mining company, Akonta Mining, is also affected. This action follows allegations of money laundering and financial irregularities.

Sources at the FIC told TV3 that the freeze was made under Section 56(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044). This law allows the FIC to freeze accounts suspected of criminal financial activity.

The FIC issued a directive to financial institutions. It ordered an immediate halt to all transactions involving Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining, and Hallmark Civil Engineering Limited. The freeze will remain in effect “pending further directives.”

This situation is part of a broader investigation into suspected illegal financial operations. The FIC is increasing enforcement across various sectors. Chairman Wontumi is under scrutiny due to controversies surrounding his mining business.

Recently, on April 21, 2025, Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah called Akonta Mining a “criminal syndicate.” He accused the company of illegal mining in protected forest reserves and announced its license revocation.

The FIC’s actions signal a significant escalation in the government’s fight against financial crimes. This crackdown particularly targets the extractive sector, where regulatory oversight has been questioned.

Chairman Wontumi has not yet commented on the account freeze or ongoing investigations.