Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Dramani Bukari, has criticized Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for flaunting gold on live television whilst Ghanaians were suffering the effects of illegal mining (galamsey).
Dr. Bukari’s comments come on the day of the ongoing trial of Chairman Wontumi, together with his company Akonta Mining Company Limited and another individual, Kwame Antwi.
They are being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General where they face six charges related to illegal mining.
Speaking on Joy Prime on October 7, 2025, Dr. Bukari said Wontumi’s case stood out to the public because of his actions during a period of national safety and environmental degradation.
“At the end of the day, the number of individuals that will be prosecuted would not just be limited to Chairman Wontumi.”
He explained that the public outrage surrounding Wontumi’s case was largely due to his actions at a time when citizens were suffering the consequences of galamsey.
“The Ghanaian public, at a time that they were hurting, that their waters were being polluted, that their lungs were being ravaged to almost unimaginable levels, he was brandishing gold on live TV.”
He added, “Saying, when they say they have wealth, this is the kind of wealth that they are talking about.”
Dr. Bukari said such conduct was unacceptable to Ghanaians, making it difficult to forget.
“You will not expect anybody to turn a blind eye to an individual like that.”
On Monday, October 6, 2025, Chairman Wontumi reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) after being summoned by the Attorney-General. The A-G had earlier warned that an arrest warrant would be issued if he failed to appear.
After cooperating with investigators, Wontumi was granted bail of GH₵1 million with two sureties.
The Attorney-General’s office filed a six-count criminal charge sheet at the High Court.
The charges, connected to alleged unauthorized mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region, include three counts of assigning mineral rights without approval and three counts of purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
