Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) denied him the opportunity to meet detained Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, due to the presence of the crowd at their premises.

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He was at the facility with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to see Wontumi and find out how he was doing, but the NIB denied them such an opportunity.

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Stating the reason behind NIB's action, he said, “Unfortunately, we are here, but the NIB feels that the crowd is such that they are not able to bring him here at the moment, and they have to make proper arrangements to bring him so that we can see him," Dr Bawumia expressed.

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The Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi, is being investigated for criminal activities.

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He has been accused of fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.

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This information was made known by Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai in a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, May 29.

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He wrote, “Suspect BERNARD ANTWI BOASIAKO, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi, is under investigation for various criminal offences (including fraud, causing financial loss to the State, and money laundering)”.

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According to him, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is assisting with the probe to recover suspected proceeds from the alleged crime.

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“The suspect is also under a second strand of investigation which is part of a larger international organised crime scheme. The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is assiduously working with our international law enforcement partners on this second strand of criminal investigations,” he added.

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Chairman Wontumi spent Wednesday night in the custody of EOCO's headquarters.

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EOCO arrested Chairman Wontumi on Tuesday after he appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service at 3pm.

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He was sent to the hospital over illness and was sent to EOCO's custody after getting better.

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On Tuesday, supporters of the opposition party massed up at the EOCO office, demanding the release of Wontumi.

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The Ashanti Regional Chairman voluntarily made an appearance at the CID headquarters on Monday alongside his legal team, including former Attorney General Godfred Dame, after an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

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He was cautioned on the following allegations: undertaking mining operations without a license, entering a forest reserve without authorisation and pollution of water bodies.

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However, according to sources, Chairman Wontumi denied these claims during his interrogation, presenting documents to authenticate his claims.

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He insists he was not involved in any illegal mining activities or operating in any forest reserve.

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The search comes after Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Buah, ordered the immediate revocation of Akonta Mining’s licenses, citing allegations of illegal mining and other violations.

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