EOCO Clarifies Visit to Wontumi's Home as Property Valuation Exercise

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has clarified that its visit to the residence of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was for a property valuation exercise, not a raid. According to EOCO, the exercise was conducted to allow officials of the Lands Commission to obtain the property's coordinates and measurements for a professional valuation. The activity was completed in less than 10 minutes without any incident.

The clarification follows reports that EOCO officers raided Mr Boasiako's residence on Monday, November 9, 2026, while his children were at home. EOCO's statement emphasized that the visit was part of due process and was conducted in the presence of Lands Commission officials. The property valuation exercise was necessary to facilitate a professional valuation of the property.

Chairman Wontumi has been embroiled in controversy after being sentenced to 20 years in prison on each of two counts in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case. The High Court in Accra found him guilty on Monday, July 20, and the two prison terms will run concurrently. Wontumi's legal team has challenged his conviction and 20-year prison sentence through an appeal at the Accra High Court on August 5, 2026.

Wontumi's initial bail application was scheduled for August 19 but could not proceed after he and his lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, failed to appear in court. The parties were subsequently informed by the court clerk that the presiding judge would be unavailable for the remainder of the week. Wontumi has been accused of facilitating illegal mining by allowing individuals to operate on the Samreboi concession without the required licence.

In addition to the prison sentence, Wontumi was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count. Before the verdict, the defence filed a last-minute application seeking to delay the judgment and refer constitutional questions to the Supreme Court. In April, his bid to halt the ongoing criminal proceedings in the alleged Samreboi illegal mining case was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

The court adjourned two related cases involving Wontumi last year. In the first case, which concerns allegations that he permitted mining activities on his concession at Samreboi without the required approval, proceedings were adjourned to November 12. The second case, in which he is accused of conducting mining operations in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve without authorisation, was also adjourned to December 4 because the presiding judge was on leave.

Wontumi's lawyer has maintained that there is no evidence to support the illegal mining charges brought against his client. The case has sparked controversy, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding EOCO's visit to Wontumi's residence. The clarification by EOCO aims to dispel any misconceptions about the nature of the visit.

Key points

• EOCO's visit to Wontumi's residence was for a property valuation exercise, not a raid.
• Chairman Wontumi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on each of two counts in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case.
• Wontumi's legal team has challenged his conviction and 20-year prison sentence through an appeal at the Accra High Court.