Following CID interrogation, Chairman Wontumi was given bail.

The Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has freed Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Just moments ago, Chairman Wontumi, as he is commonly known, and his solicitors departed the security agency’s premises.

The party official informed reporters that during his questioning, he gave the police documents that demonstrated his lack of involvement in any illicit mining operations.

He added that he had provided additional evidence that he was not mining within any forest reserves.

Bail was granted to Mr. Boasiako with two sureties.

Wontumi turned himself in to the Ghana Police Service earlier today after National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) agents failed to carry out a search order at his Kumasi residence on May 23 last week.

That day, when heavily armed national security agents attempted to enter his home using a court-approved search warrant, a heated standoff resulted.

Chairman Wontumi sounded an alert, attracting a throng of supporters to the area just as the operation was about to result in an arrest, according to JoyNews.
Negotiations between the agents and Wontumi’s legal team were spurred by the deadlock. Eventually, the agents left, and Wontumi’s solicitors consented to bring him before the police on Monday.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako is being pursued by the state for allegedly engaging in illicit mining operations through his business, Akonta Mining.

Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister of Land and Natural Resources, declared earlier this month that the Akonta Mining lease would be terminated. However, Wontumi is suing to overturn the cancellation.