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Sunday, 23 August 2026
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Sunday, 23 August 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Chairman Wontumi

Also known as: Bernard Boasiako Antwi · Mr Boasiako · Benard Antwi-Boasiako

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP facing criminal charges for financial loss to EXIM Bank and illegal mining; convicted and ruled constitutionally ineligible to contest party executive positions.

2026-05-152026-08-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. August 2026
  2. Joy Online

    For all persons cultivating the interesting idea of how the embattled Chairman Wontumi would be permitted to leave the Nsawam Prison to attend vetting at the NPP Headquarters at Asylum Down, Accra, I hate to burst your bubble but Wontumi is NOT eligible to contest any executive p

    Can Chairman Wontumi contest NPP National Chairman?
  3. The Chronicle

    Srem Sai is being threatened after jailing Chairman Wontumi. Why should it be the case?

    Feature: Are Public Tribunals ‘Kangaroo Courts’ As Perceived By Afenyo-Markin?
  4. Joy Online

    This was his third attempt after losing to the former Regional chairman, Benard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, on two occasions.

    Odeneho Kwaku Appiah beats former EPA boss Kokofu, to emerge NPP Ashanti chair
  5. July 2026
  6. Joy Online

    There is an old legal truth that deserves renewed attention: “Justice delayed is not justice denied where the law permits prosecution, but justice obstructed by power is a betrayal of the Republic.” Chairman Wontumi’s conviction is therefore not merely about one individual.

    When Chairman Wontumi’s 20-year sentence marks a turning point in the fight against political impunity
  7. Joy Online

    Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has rejected claims that Chairman Wontumi’s legal team was prevented from arguing pending applications before the High Court before his conviction and sentencing.

    Wontumi’s lawyers only sought an adjournment, not to move motions – Deputy AG
  8. Joy Online

    Despite President Mahama’s assertion in October 2024 that arresting kingpins is crucial to success, CAGG argues that almost 19 months into his term, no significant prosecutions of politically exposed persons have occurred, with the notable exception of Chairman Wontumi.

    CAGG rejects claim that galamsey impunity is over, demands tougher action against illegal miners
  9. Joy Online

    Mr Awuah cited the bail conditions imposed on the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as well as the recent GH¢50 million bail granted to former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD)

    NPP not against investigations, but use of bail to intimidate opposition – Baffuor Awuah
  10. Joy Online

    Despite these gains, Madam Serwah expressed concern about the pace of prosecutions in the fight against illegal mining, questioning why prominent individuals suspected of financing or facilitating galamsey activities have not been held accountable. “Apart from Chairman Wontumi be

    Achimota Forest protection commendable, but galamsey fight must target masterminds — Awula Serwah
  11. May 2026
  12. Joy Online

    Among those honoured were rapper Sarkodie, broadcaster Berla Mundi, musician D-Black, Chairman Wontumi, Captain Smart, DJ Black, Natalie Fort, the Daughters of Glorious Jesus, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana Prof.

    Tecco Mensah writes: Misinformation is an existential threat
  13. The Ghanaian Times

    New Patriotic Party national chairman hopeful, Bernard Boasiako Antwi, also known as Chairman Wontumi, is facing fresh criminal charges for intentionally causing financial loss of more than GH¢30 million to Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM) Bank.

    Wontumi faces fresh charges over alleged GH¢30m EXIM Bank fraud

Yesterday

  1. Wontumi constitutionally ineligible for NPP national chairman race

    An analysis argues that Chairman Wontumi is not eligible to contest any executive position of a political party in Ghana, citing constitutional provisions on eligibility criteria for political party officials and the implications of criminal conviction and sentencing.

    12 hours ago · Joy Online

Thursday 20 August

  1. Opinion: Public tribunals defended against kangaroo court criticism

    The article argues that public tribunals, contrary to criticism from figures like Afenyo-Markin, delivered justice under the PNDC government by successfully prosecuting and jailing corrupt high-ranking politicians, and defends their establishment against claims of unfairness.

    20 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Saturday 15 August

  1. Odeneho Kwaku Appiah elected NPP Ashanti Region chairman

    Odeneho Kwaku Appiah won the New Patriotic Party's regional executive elections in Ashanti with 663 votes, defeating former EPA chief Henry Kwabena Kokofu's 269 votes. The newly elected leadership is expected to lead the party's mobilisation and restructuring efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.

    15 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Chairman Wontumi's conviction signals shift against political impunity

    An opinion piece argues that Chairman Wontumi's 20-year sentence represents a turning point in enforcing the law against politically connected figures, and calls for scrutiny of former officials over their handling of illegal mining complaints allegedly involving politically exposed persons.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Deputy AG denies Wontumi lawyers prevented from arguing court motions

    Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai rejected claims that Chairman Wontumi's legal team was barred from arguing pending applications before conviction, stating that substitute lawyers informed the court their sole instruction was to seek an adjournment, not to move motions.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 20 July

  1. CAGG disputes government claim that galamsey impunity era is over

    The Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana rejected the government's assertion that the era of impunity regarding illegal mining is over, citing escalating lawlessness in the Eastern Region and calling for equal enforcement against all illegal miners, including politically exposed persons and kingpins.

    20 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 17 July

  1. NPP objects to bail conditions used to intimidate opposition

    An NPP member of Parliament's Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee says the party is not against investigations, but against the use of bail conditions to intimidate opposition figures, citing examples including bail conditions imposed on the Ashanti Regional Chairman and a GH¢50 million bail granted to a former executive secretary.

    17 July 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Achimota Forest protection welcome, but galamsey prosecution must target leaders

    Eco-Conscious Citizens coordinator Awula Serwah has praised the revocation of Executive Instrument 144, which restores the Achimota Forest Reserve to full protected status, but calls for government to prosecute powerful individuals and politically exposed persons behind illegal mining rather than focusing only on small-scale operators.

    15 July 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Misinformation poses existential threat to Ghana's media

    A guest speaker at the University of Ghana's Media and Information Literacy Club launch stressed the importance of thorough verification of information before accepting it, citing how visual similarity—such as a logo missing key identifying elements—does not constitute authenticity.

    19 May 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NPP chairman hopeful faces fraud charges over GH¢30m EXIM Bank loss

    Bernard Boasiako Antwi (Chairman Wontumi), an NPP national chairman hopeful, faces fresh criminal charges for causing financial loss of more than GH¢30 million to Ghana Export-Import Bank. He and his co-accused are charged with defrauding by false pretence, money laundering, and uttering forged documents in connection with a farming project for which EXIM Bank allegedly disbursed various sums.

    19 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Friday 15 May

  1. Defence witness: verbal mining deals lack legal standing in Ghana

    A mining engineer testifying for Chairman Wontumi's defence told the court that Ghana's mining laws require formal procedures and ministerial approval for assignment of mineral rights, and that verbal permission cannot constitute a valid transfer. Wontumi faces six counts of allegedly permitting mining on his concession without prior ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining.

    15 May 2026 · Joy Online

Chairman Wontumi — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute