NPP’s Wontumi Denies Illegal Mining Claims Amid Government Crackdown

Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and owner of Akonta Mining, has vehemently rejected allegations linking his company to illegal mining activities in Ghana’s forest reserves.

The denial follows accusations by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, who claimed Akonta Mining operated unlawfully within protected areas.

In a fiery address on Wontumi FM, Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, challenged the minister to substantiate the claims in court. “I have never worked in the forest. I don’t have a license there. The Forestry Commission oversees these areas, not me,” he stated, refuting reports of his involvement in the Aboi Forest and Samreboi enclave of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. “If anyone says I took money for illegal mining, let them prove it.”

The rebuttal comes days after Minister Buah announced the revocation of Akonta Mining’s lease, alleging the company sold forest concessions for GH₵300,000 each and collected illegal royalties while operating beyond its permitted zones. The minister also implicated forestry officials and security personnel in enabling environmental degradation, including pollution of the River Tano. The case has since been forwarded to the Attorney General for potential prosecution.

Wontumi’s defiance underscores the politically charged nature of Ghana’s protracted battle against galamsey, a crisis that has persisted despite military-led crackdowns and high-profile pledges to hold financiers accountable. Critics have long argued that enforcement disproportionately targets low-income miners while shielding influential backers.

This latest clash highlights systemic challenges in regulating the sector, where overlapping licenses, bureaucratic loopholes, and alleged collusion between operators and state agencies complicate oversight. Akonta Mining’s case mirrors past controversies, raising questions about the efficacy of sanctions against well-connected entities.

As Ghana grapples with the environmental and health impacts of illegal mining, the government faces mounting pressure to demonstrate impartiality in prosecuting offenders. The outcome of this dispute may test the credibility of renewed anti-galamsey efforts and shape public perception of institutional accountability ahead of the 2028 elections.