The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has imposed a freeze on all bank accounts linked to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as well as his mining firm, Akonta Mining. This action follows mounting allegations of money laundering and other financial misconduct.
According to insider sources at the FIC, the freeze was executed under the authority of Section 56(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), which grants the Centre the power to suspend financial activities where there is reasonable suspicion of illicit transactions.
A directive reportedly sent to financial institutions instructed the immediate suspension of all financial operations connected to Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining, and Hallmark Civil Engineering Limited — a company believed to have affiliations with the embattled businessman.
The freeze, the directive stated, will remain active “until further notice,” as investigations continue.
This decisive action marks a significant step in an ongoing probe into suspected illegal financial practices. The FIC has recently intensified its enforcement activities, especially within industries like mining, where regulatory breaches have drawn public concern.
The embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, has been under increased scrutiny following multiple controversies surrounding his mining interests.
The latest move by the FIC comes just days after Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described Akonta Mining as a “criminal syndicate” during a press briefing on April 21, 2025. The minister also confirmed the revocation of the company’s mining license over illegal operations in protected forest reserves.
With these developments, the government’s clampdown on financial crimes — especially within the extractive sector — appears to be gaining momentum. Chairman Wontumi has yet to issue any official statement regarding the freezing of his accounts or the ongoing investigations.
