The lawyer for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah Kubi, has confirmed that his client will honour the invitation.
According to Andy Appiah Kubi, the Attorney General’s warning is unnecessary as Wontumi has cooperated with investigators.
Speaking to Citi News on Sunday, October 5, Chairman Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah Kubi, stated, “We have been asked to appear at the police CID in Accra, which we are ready for, and we will be there at 10 am at the police CID headquarters.
“This announcement by the Attorney General surprises me. I said, we respect the invitation and we will honour it, but I think the warning that followed that announcement was unnecessary,” he said, adding We are not in any way going to disrespect the invitation.”
His comments follows the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, had earlier warned the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party Chairman Wontumi, that he would be arrested if he failed to show up for his charges to be read to him.
Speaking during the stakeholder engagement on illegal mining assembled by President John Dramani Mahama in Accra on Friday, October 3, Dr Ayine stated, “I am happy to announce that in 2022, the police conducted a very diligent investigation in terms of Akonta Mining, but the dockets were hidden until we came to power. It was when I came in and began the investigation with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission, we were finding it difficult to get information on the case. It was then that the police themselves owned up and presented that docket to my office two months ago”.
“As we speak, the charges against Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining and five others have been signed. Currently, we are waiting for his rights to be read to him, and he has the right to remain silent before he is brought from Kumasi.
“His lawyers asked that he be brought on Tuesday, but I insisted that he be here on Monday. If he does not come on Monday, I am going to order his arrest so that he is brought to Accra and then we can start the prosecution,” Dr Ayine stated.
It will be recalled that on April 21 2025, the John Mahama government formally revoked Chairman Wontumi’s Akonta Mining license.
Wontumi’s Akonta Mining has been accused of galamsey operations within the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, revealed the case was delayed because crucial dockets were concealed under the previous Akufo-Addo Bawumia administration.
In related news, Wontumi has revealed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has seized 15 of his luxury cars.
It will be recalled that Wontumi was arrested by EOCO following a visit to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters on Tuesday, May 27, shortly after leaving the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra.
Justice Srem-Sai later revealed that Wontumi is also being investigated for an International organised crime scheme.
The Deputy Attorney General noted that EOCO is assiduously working with our international law enforcement partners on the second strand of criminal investigations.
Chairman Wontumi was released from EOCO custody on June 2, after meeting his bail GHS50 million conditions.
According to Chairman Wontumi, EOCO has seized his vehicle for no reason.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Chairman Wontumi stated, “I have been quiet. As we are talking now, 15 of my cars have been confiscated by EOCO. I bought all the cars from Bright (sic). Bright (sic) is close to the NPP office at Asylum Down.
“He has the right registration. He paid the port fees and everything. My Bentley, Rolls-Royce, my Land Cruiser (have been taken), but I have been quiet because I don’t want to be talking about my own issues,” he said.
He added, “I want to end this conversation here. One day, God will speak for me.”