🇬🇭GhanaWest Africa
Minority Caucus calls for publication of illegal mining investigation records
via GhanaWeb2 min read
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has urged the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, to release investigation records concerning illegal mining, involving individuals from across the political spectrum, to ensure transparency. This call follows the conviction and 20-year imprisonment of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, for his involvement in illegal mining. The caucus specifically requested updates on investigations into Joseph Yamin, National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress NDC, and Yakubu Abanga, the party’s National Vice Chairman, regarding their alleged involvement in illegal mining. The statement, signed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, noted that Dr Ayine has not yet provided updates on Yamin and Abanga, despite a formal letter to the Economic and Organised Crime Office EOCO. The caucus also mentioned the Member of Parliament MP for Prestea Huni Valley, allegedly involved in illegal mining, and the MP for Asutifi North, who was arraigned for obstructing an anti-galamsey task force. Describing Boasiako’s conviction as “selective justice,” the caucus criticized the High Court’s decision not to refer constitutional questions to the Supreme Court under Article 130 of the 1992 Constitution for interpretation, citing concerns about democracy and the rule of law. They called on the judiciary to reaffirm the threshold for constitutional referrals and urged consistency and transpare
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Paul Afoko, a former New Patriotic Party NPP National Chairman, shared his experience of escaping detention during the June 19, 1983 prison break under the Provisional National Defence Council PNDC regime. Speaking on Channel One TV on July 21, 2026, Afoko explained that he seized the opportunity to flee when a group attempting to overthrow the government broke into the prison to free soldiers. Although not involved in the coup attempt, he feared for his life if he remained incarcerated. He had previously fled to Burkina Faso, then called Upper Volta, after receiving intelligence that soldiers were coming to arrest him from Tamale. He crossed the border on a motorbike and blended in due to his ability to speak the local language. Afoko later returned to Ghana after his father, following assurances from then-PNDC member Daniel Akatapuri, asked him to come home. However, soldiers surrounded his home at dawn shortly after his return, arrested him, and transferred him to a detention center in Accra. After escaping during the prison break, Afoko went into hiding before leaving Ghana through Kotoka International Airport with the help of friends, including a junior from secondary school who was the country manager for Nigeria Airways.
Must ReadBernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, has been sentenced to 20 years in Nsawam Maximum Prison after being found guilty in one of several cases filed against him by the state. His conviction jeopardizes his ambition to become the National Chair of his party. Wontumi faces legal proceedings in three separate cases: illegal mining activities related to the Samreboi concession in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, which led to his conviction; a second case involving alleged illegal mining in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, where he is being investigated for undertaking mining operations without a license, pollution of water bodies, and entering a forest reserve without authorization; and a third case concerning an alleged fraud scheme against the Ghana Export-Import EXIM Bank, where he and two others are accused of defrauding the bank of approximately GH¢14.3 million to GH¢30 million. Wontumi's legal team has initiated a plea-bargaining process in the EXIM Bank case. Beyond these official charges, the article mentions past controversies involving Wontumi, including allegations against President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Opoku-Agyemang, public displays of gold bars, flaunting an ultra-luxury mansion, a boastful bid to purchase Chelsea Football Club, and an alleged undue payment of GH¢50 million from the Ghana Cocoa Board COCOBOD to his company, Hallmark Civil Engineering.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party and aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, stated he was disheartened by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office EOCO investigation into alleged financial and procurement irregularities totaling approximately GH¢55 million during his time at the Inter‑Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation IMCCoD. Aboagye, who appeared before EOCO on April 28, 2026, with his lawyer after a petition was filed, said he was not informed of specific allegations or that he was under investigation. He expressed sadness and anger upon learning of the GH¢55 million probe, stating he was never officially notified by EOCO. Aboagye also recounted his shock when Immigration officials at Accra International Airport informed him his name was on a stop list upon his return to Ghana, despite having traveled out of the country earlier. He emphasized that while EOCO has the right to investigate, citizens should be treated fairly. EOCO confirmed his arrest at the airport was related to the GH¢55 million allegations, and he has since been granted bail for GH¢50 million with three sureties.