By In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through Ghana’s political and environmental spheres, Chairman Wontumi, a prominent figure in the Ashanti Region and the owner of Akonta Mining Ltd., has been implicated in a scheme involving illegal mining operations in the Aboi Forest Reserve.
The allegations, brought to light by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah during a press conference on April 21, 2025, paint a grim picture of environmental devastation, unchecked greed, and systemic failures in governance.
The Allegations: A Gold-Fueled Conspiracy
According to Minister Buah, Akonta Mining, under the leadership of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (popularly known as Chairman Wontumi), has been orchestrating illegal mining activities—locally known as “galamsey”—within the Aboi Forest Reserve. The company allegedly sold concessions to illegal miners at a rate of GHC 300,000 per concession, with an additional condition: weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold to be paid to Akonta Mining’s collaborators.
This arrangement, as detailed in the minister’s statement, has allowed illegal miners to operate with impunity under the cover of Akonta Mining’s lease, leading to widespread destruction of the forest and the nearby Tano River.
The minister’s press conference, held on Monday, April 21, 2025, was a rare moment of public accountability in a saga that has long been whispered about in Ghanaian circles. “There is no control over the activities of these illegal miners whatsoever,” Buah stated, emphasizing that the operations were destroying critical ecosystems while lining the pockets of Akonta’s collaborators. Two individuals, identified only as “Henry” and “Shark,” were named as overseers of the devastation, allegedly acting on behalf of Akonta Mining.
The Evidence: A Raid That Shook the Nation
On the eve of Good Friday, April 17, 2025, the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission conducted a 12-hour intelligence-led operation in Compartment 49 of the Aboi Forest Reserve. The raid, which began at 5 a.m., resulted in the arrest of 51 individuals—8 Chinese nationals, 39 Ghanaian men, and 4 Ghanaian women—all linked to illegal mining activities facilitated by Akonta Mining.
The operation yielded a significant haul: 30 excavators (5 of which were impounded), 2 pump-action guns with BB cartridges, 1 single-barrel gun, 2 Toyota Hilux pickups, 1 Toyota RAV4, 4 motorbikes, and a cache of mining equipment. All suspects were transported to Accra and are currently in custody pending prosecution.
This raid marks a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to curb illegal mining, but it also raises questions about why such operations were allowed to flourish for so long under Akonta Mining’s watch. The Forestry Commission has reported that 4,726 hectares across 34 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves have been destroyed by galamsey, with the Aboi Forest Reserve and Tano River suffering particularly severe damage.
The Environmental and Human Toll
The consequences of these illegal mining activities extend far beyond the immediate destruction of the Aboi Forest Reserve. According to a report by ISS Africa, water pollution from galamsey has been linked to chronic diseases such as kidney failure, birth defects, and cancer in many of Ghana’s mining communities.
The use of heavy equipment like excavators and bulldozers has not only razed forests but also contaminated river bodies and farmlands, threatening the livelihoods of countless Ghanaians. The Tano River, once a lifeline for local communities, is now a casualty of this unchecked exploitation.
The Forestry Commission has repeatedly voiced concerns about the continued destruction of Ghana’s major forests, but their warnings have often gone unheeded. The involvement of high-profile figures like Chairman Wontumi, who also serves as the Ashanti Region’s NPP Chairman, has added a political dimension to the crisis.
ISS Africa notes that fears of damaging the ruling party’s electoral fortunes have historically deterred strict enforcement of anti-galamsey laws, allowing key state officials, politicians, and party financiers to evade prosecution.
Akonta Mining’s Denial: A Question of Credibility
In response to the allegations, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako has vehemently denied any involvement in illegal mining within the Aboi Forest Reserve. Speaking on April 21, 2025, he accused Minister Buah of spreading “palpable lies” and challenged the government to provide evidence of his company’s wrongdoing. “I have never been to Aboi Forest. I don’t work there.
I don’t have a license there,” Wontumi stated, adding that the Forestry Commission, not Akonta Mining, is responsible for the forest’s management. He further claimed that in 2023, the Minerals Commission and the then-Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor had directed the Forestry Commission to take charge of the area, effectively absolving his company of responsibility.
Wontumi’s denial, however, is undermined by the government’s decision to revoke Akonta Mining’s license on April 21, 2025, as announced by Minister Buah. The revocation, ordered through the Minerals Commission, cites the company’s involvement in illegal operations as the primary reason. While Wontumi has threatened legal action to clear his name, the evidence from the April 17 raid and the minister’s detailed allegations suggest that Akonta Mining’s role in the Aboi Forest scandal is far from a fabrication.
Public Outrage: A Call for Accountability
The revelations have sparked widespread outrage on social media platforms like X, where Ghanaians have expressed their frustration with the lack of accountability for powerful figures like Chairman Wontumi.
A post by @BNewsMargazin on April 22, 2025, detailing the gold royalty scheme, garnered significant attention, with users like @Soonicebaakop3 questioning, “So nobody fi arrest this guy ah?” Others, such as @CollinsNtiful2, lamented the broader impact of such corruption, stating, “Eeeeiii these politicians are killing us paa oo.”
The public’s anger is palpable, and for good reason. Galamsey, whether conducted by small-scale operators or large firms like Akonta Mining, has long been a scourge on Ghana’s environment and public health. The involvement of foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens arrested in the April 17 raid, underscores the international dimensions of the problem, with illegal mining networks often involving players from neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, as noted by ISS Africa.
The Bigger Picture: A Systemic Failure
The Aboi Forest scandal is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a deeper systemic failure in Ghana’s governance of its natural resources. Previous efforts to curb galamsey, such as those led by former Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, have yielded limited results. In 2023, Jinapor ordered Akonta Mining to cease operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve after it was found to be mining without a lease, mineral rights, or permit. Yet, no prosecution followed, and the company appears to have continued its activities unabated until the recent raid.
The political connections of figures like Chairman Wontumi have long shielded them from accountability, but the tide may be turning. The revocation of Akonta Mining’s license and the arrest of 51 suspects signal a renewed commitment to tackling illegal mining, though it remains to be seen whether these actions will lead to meaningful prosecutions or merely serve as a public relations exercise.
What’s Next: A Path to Justice?
As the investigation into Akonta Mining’s activities continues, Ghanaians are demanding justice—not just for the destruction of the Aboi Forest Reserve, but for the broader impact of galamsey on their lives and environment. The 51 suspects currently in custody in Accra must face the full force of the law, regardless of their connections. More importantly, the government must address the systemic issues that allow such illegal operations to thrive, including the political protection afforded to influential figures like Chairman Wontumi.
The Aboi Forest scandal is a wake-up call for Ghana. If left unchecked, galamsey threatens to sink the country—environmentally, economically, and socially. The question now is whether the government has the political will to act decisively, or if this will become yet another chapter in the long, tragic story of Ghana’s battle against illegal mining.
