Deputy AG Srem-Sai Confirms Chairman Wontumi Charges, Says he's an International Crime Suspect
- Ghana's Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, has shared a statement explaining the gravity of Chairman Wontumi's detention
- He confirmed that the embattled NPP's Ashanti Regional Chairman was arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on Tuesday, May 27
- In his statement, Srem-Sai identified the charges against him, which include an ongoing international probe
The Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai, has unveiled a new wave of investigations into Chairman Wontumi's dealings after the latter was arrested on May 27 in Accra.
Source: Facebook
In an online update on Chairman Wontumi's case, the Deputy Attorney General established that there is a second strand of investigation ongoing.
He confirmed that the new investigation is part of an international organised crime scheme in which Chairman Wontumi is a suspect.
In an online post, Justice Srem Sai said
"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,"
"The criminal investigation is running concurrently with asset recovery processes, to prevent further dissipation of what law enforcement agencies strongly suspect to be proceeds of crime,"
"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,"
Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional official who owns Akonta Mining, was previously charged with illegal mining-related offences by the police.
The politician, real name, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has been under more scrutiny after John Dramani Mahama's government revoked the license of his mining company, accusing it of illegal mining.
Akonta Mining has long been linked to illegal mining activities, particularly in forest reserves.
In 2022, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey presented evidence that Akonta Mining violated the Minerals and Mining Act by mining closely along the banks of the Tano River.
However, Chairman Wontumi denied the claims and was defended by the then-president, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Chairman Wontumi's arrest upsets lawmakers
Chairman Wontumi's arrest, which came with a GH¢50 million bail condition, has garnered significant traction online.
Neither Chairman Wontumi nor his supporters have been able to fulfil the bail condition.
The minority caucus in Ghana's 9th Parliament, consisting of MPs belonging to the NPP, has tagged the arrest as a witch hunt of its members.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, described the arrest as a deliberate attempt to show Ghanaians where the power lies.
Former Works and Housing Minister under Akufo-Addo's tenure, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, also accused Mahama's government of using legal processes for political gains.
The MPs' frustrations led the Minority Caucus to stage a sit-in on May 29 outside the EOCO headquarters, where Chairman Wontumi has been detained.
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Chairman Wontumi’s arrest: Ralph St Williams breaks silence after melee with NPP supporters
Source: Getty Images
Godfred Dame heads Chairman Wontumi's legal team.
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Ghana's former Attorney General, Godfred Dame, was leading Chairman Wontumi's legal team.
He accompanied Wontumi to the police station. Their entourage also had other NPP MPs, including Andy Appiah Kubi.
Godfred Dame, in footage captured at the EOCO headquarters, told the media that "it shall be well" when asked about Wontumi's well-being.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
