Fresh controversy has erupted within Ghana’s political and legal circles following shocking revelations that the official docket meant to prosecute Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (popularly known as Chairman Wontumi), for alleged galamsey (illegal mining) activities has mysteriously gone missing under the current administration.
According to credible insider reports, the missing docket contained vital documents, statements, and evidence gathered by state investigators regarding Wontumi’s alleged involvement in illegal mining operations across parts of the Ashanti and Western North regions. The disappearance of such a sensitive file has raised serious concerns about interference, political protection, and accountability within the justice system.
Sources close to the Attorney General’s Department revealed that the case was scheduled for preliminary prosecution months ago, following several petitions by environmental groups demanding that government officials and politically connected individuals be held accountable for their roles in the illegal mining menace. However, when the file was recently requested by the legal team in charge of environmental prosecutions, it could not be traced in the official registry.
An insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the discovery sent shockwaves through the department.
“This is not an ordinary case file. It contained evidence from security agencies, drone footage, and witness statements. Its disappearance has complicated everything. There’s suspicion that someone high up may have interfered,” the source disclosed.
The development has sparked public outrage, with critics accusing the government of shielding powerful figures from justice. Many have pointed to the incident as proof that the fight against galamsey has been compromised, especially when politically influential individuals are involved.
Opposition figures from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have demanded an immediate investigation, calling the situation a “national disgrace.” NDC spokesperson on Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, in a statement, described the missing docket as “a calculated attempt to obstruct justice and protect government loyalists who are destroying Ghana’s water bodies.”
“If it were a poor man caught mining illegally, the prosecution would be swift. But when it involves a party chairman close to power, the case mysteriously disappears. This is unacceptable,” Dr. Boamah added.
Environmental advocacy groups such as Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey (CCAG) have also called for independent oversight from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), urging President Akufo-Addo to prove his commitment to fighting corruption and illegal mining by ensuring that the docket is retrieved and those responsible face disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, sources within the NPP have dismissed claims of a political cover-up, insisting that the Attorney General’s office and the CID are still reviewing the situation. A regional executive who spoke anonymously maintained that the party has no hand in the alleged disappearance.
“Chairman Wontumi is a respected leader in our party, but if there’s a legitimate case, the law should take its course. However, people must stop spreading unverified stories to tarnish his image,” he stated.
Political analysts have described the situation as a major test for President Akufo-Addo’s credibility in the anti-galamsey fight, noting that the public perception of favoritism in the enforcement of environmental laws could erode confidence in government institutions.
As investigations continue, many Ghanaian are demanding transparency and answers about how such a critical legal document could vanish under the watch of state institutions.
For now, the missing Wontumi galamsey docket remains one of the most talked-about scandals in the country — a mystery that deepens the controversy around political power, justice, and the fight to save Ghana’s environment.
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