Chairman Wontumi

Chairman Wontumi
Regional Chairman, NPP for Ashanti Region
In office
25 January 2014 – Present
Personal details
BornBernard Antwi Boasiako
(1976-05-01) 1 May 1976[1]
Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
PartyNew Patriotic Party
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionBusinessperson

Bernard Antwi Boasiako (born May 1, 1976), popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is a Ghanaian politician, entrepreneur, and media proprietor.[2] He was the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a position he held from 2014.[3][1][4]

Early life and education

Boasiako was born in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He received his secondary education at Prempeh College in Kumasi.[5][6] His early years were largely spent in the Ashanti Region, where he later built both his business and political career.[7]

Business career

Outside politics, Boasiako is involved in several business ventures. He is associated with the extractive and mining sector and has been linked to Akonta Mining Company Limited, a firm operating in Ghana's Western Region.[8][9][10] He is also a media entrepreneur and owns Wontumi Radio and Movement TV,[11] media platforms that focus on political commentary, entertainment, and public affairs.[12][13][14][15]

Political career

Bernard Antwi Boasiako is a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He began his political career at the grassroots level and rose through the party's organisational structure.

In January 2014, he was elected Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP. He was subsequently re-elected in 2018 and 2022.

In 2025, Boasiako became the subject of investigations and legal proceedings relating to alleged illegal mining activities connected to the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. He was arrested and later granted bail while the case proceeded.

In July 2026, the Accra High Court convicted Boasiako in connection with illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession. On 20 July 2026, the court sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour. The sentences imposed on the two counts were ordered to run concurrently. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count. Akonta Mining Company Limited was separately fined on the counts for which it was convicted.

Boasiako subsequently filed an appeal against the conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal. His lawyers argued, among other grounds, that the trial court had misinterpreted provisions of Ghana's mining laws, improperly evaluated evidence and imposed an excessive sentence. The appeal seeks to have the convictions overturned and Boasiako acquitted and discharged.

Following his imprisonment, the NPP's Ashanti Regional chairmanship became vacant. On 15 August 2026, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, was elected Ashanti Regional Chairman, succeeding Boasiako.

NPP national chairperson bid

Boasiako declared his intention to contest for the New Patriotic Party national chairman, and his critics did not stop mock his educational competencies. In response to the criticism, he says his experience is his certificate and not English fluency.[16]

“People saying I don’t speak good English doesn’t stop me. I’m unperturbed,” he stated.[16]

Conviction and imprisonment

In 2026, Boasiako was prosecuted alongside Akonta Mining Company Limited in connection with illegal mining activities at the company's Samreboi concession in the Western Region of Ghana.[17]

On 20 July 2026, the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, convicted Boasiako on two counts relating to the assignment of mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and the purposeful facilitation of an unlicensed mining operation. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour, with the sentences to run concurrently, and fined 10,000 penalty units on each count. Akonta Mining Company Limited was also convicted and fined.[18]

Boasiako's lawyers filed a notice of appeal on 28 July 2026. The appeal challenges the legal basis of the convictions, the interpretation of provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, the evaluation of evidence and the severity of the sentence.[19]

While serving his sentence, Boasiako's lawyers also applied for bail pending the determination of his appeal. He was reported to be incarcerated at Nsawam Medium Security Prison. As of August 2026, the bail application remained pending.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 "Chairman Wontumi re-elected as Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  2. ↑ Murimi, Racheal (3 September 2024). "Who is Chairman Wontumi? Everything you need to know about the Ghanaian politician - YEN.COM.GH". yen.com.gh. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "NPP regional elections: Full list of winners and losers". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  4. ↑ "Ashanti NPP elects Antwi-Boasiako 'Wontumi' as Chairman". GhanaWeb. 25 January 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Adomonline (7 February 2020). "Chairman Wontumi gives details about his time at Prempeh College".
  6. ↑ Azongo, Albert (21 January 2021). "Chairman Wontumi discloses the whereabout of his Prempeh certificate » DreamzFMOnline". DreamzFMOnline. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  7. ↑ Ghanaweb (2 September 2024). "Chairman Wontumi recounts how he 'copied' from ex-Kotoko midfielder Chibsah during Prempeh College exams".
  8. ↑ Ghanaweb (5 November 2025). "Akonta Mining manager speaks on why he's made a U-turn to testify against Wontumi".
  9. ↑ Adu-Asare, Laud (18 January 2026). "Wontumi Galamsey Trial: Witness admits Akonta Mining owner permitted him to mine at Samreboi". 3News. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  10. ↑ "AG: Investigations into Wontumi and Akonta Mining complete - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Chairman Wontumi lists the number of media organizations he owns". GhanaWeb. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "Akonta Mining not engaged in illegal mining - Akufo-Addo". 4 January 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Three Wontumi radio stations, Six others suspended". 12 August 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "Appiah-Kubi calls for dialogue over suspension of Wontumi radio stations". 13 August 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  15. ↑ Effah, Evans (12 June 2025). "NCA orders Wontumi FM, Asaase Radio and 60 other stations to suspend operations over licensing infractions". 3News. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  16. 1 2 "My experience is my certificate, not English fluency – Wontumi defends NPP chairmanship bid - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  17. ↑ GNA (19 August 2026). "Court adjourns to October 15 Wontumi's application for bail pending appeal". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  18. ↑ GNA (19 August 2026). "Court adjourns to October 15 Wontumi's application for bail pending appeal". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  19. ↑ GNA (19 August 2026). "Court adjourns to October 15 Wontumi's application for bail pending appeal". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  20. ↑ GNA (19 August 2026). "Court adjourns to October 15 Wontumi's application for bail pending appeal". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
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