Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been rearrested in connection with a $55 million cocoa road contract fraud investigation. The arrest follows a raid on his Kumasi residence by National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) operatives on May 23, 2025, after he allegedly received GH₵50.8 million ($55 million equivalent) from COCOBOD on January 8, 2025, despite a directive to suspend payments.
Wontumi’s company, Hallmark Civil Engineering Ltd., was awarded a $45 million contract in 2020 to construct a 23km road in the Western North Region. Critics, including the NDC, labeled the deal fraudulent, citing the company’s inexperience and the high cost of $2 million per kilometer for a non-asphalted road. Recent reports suggest an additional GH₵50 million payment was made, prompting further scrutiny.
On May 26, 2025, Wontumi was questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and released on bail with two sureties. He denies wrongdoing, claiming political persecution due to his NPP National Chairmanship bid. His lawyer called the raid “immature,” while supporters protested, alleging a witch-hunt by the Mahama administration.
The investigation also ties to Wontumi’s Akonta Mining, accused of illegal mining. The Financial Intelligence Centre froze his accounts in April 2025, intensifying probes into his finances. Ghanaians await clarity as the Auditor-General reviews COCOBOD’s payments, with calls for accountability growing louder.
Source:https://x.com/citi973/status/1926962646282068303?s=46&t=mJB7mIWhDaNawVRKw_nAEg