The campaign against illegal mining in Ghana has taken a dramatic turn following a bold statement by National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, on social media. In a tweet that has since sparked national attention, Gyamfi declared:
“The day of reckoning for Chairman Wontumi and his ilk has come. means business. Together with well-meaning Ghanaians, we shall win the fight against illegal mining and preserve our environment.”
This pointed statement has reignited public scrutiny of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), whose name has frequently come up in discussions surrounding illegal mining activities commonly referred to as galamsey.
Wontumi has long faced allegations of owning and operating illegal mining concessions in forest reserves and protected lands, particularly in the Ashanti Region. While he has previously denied direct involvement, numerous reports and investigative pieces have linked his interests and associates to operations that have left behind environmental destruction and polluted water bodies.
In recent years, residents in parts of the Amansie South and Bekwai areas have raised concerns about the increasing degradation of land and rivers, with some reportedly connected to operations allegedly backed by political figures. Environmentalists and local leaders have accused powerful individuals of shielding illegal miners and frustrating enforcement efforts.
“Chairman Wontumi symbolizes the impunity and political protection that has allowed galamsey to thrive,” said a Kumasi-based civil society advocate who preferred to remain anonymous. “If he is truly held accountable, it will mark a turning point in our national fight against this scourge.”
The Minerals Commission, in collaboration with other state agencies, has vowed to intensify monitoring, but concerns remain about selective enforcement and political interference. Calls are now mounting for an independent probe into Wontumi’s alleged mining operations, including the issuance and use of mining licenses
