Home Science Environmental news Chairman Wontumi Denies Mining Firm’s Ties to Illegal Chinese Operations

Chairman Wontumi Denies Mining Firm’s Ties to Illegal Chinese Operations

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Chairman Wontumi
Chairman Wontumi

Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, has vehemently rejected allegations linking his company, Akonta Mining Limited, to illegal mining activities involving Chinese nationals.

The claims arose after journalist Erastus Asare Donkor alleged in a Facebook post that detained Chinese miners cited Akonta Mining as their employer while admitting to polluting local rivers.

In a televised interview with Wontumi FM, Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, dismissed the accusations as baseless. “No Chinese man is working for me,” he stated, challenging Donkor to substantiate the claims legally. “If he has arrested anyone illegally mining for Akonta, let him take that person to court,” he asserted. The businessman emphasized that Akonta Mining holds valid permits and operates within Ghana’s legal framework, akin to established firms like AngloGold Ashanti, though the company has been inactive for an undisclosed period.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over galamsey—illegal small-scale mining—which has caused severe environmental degradation, contaminating water sources and destroying forests. Despite government efforts to curb the practice, enforcement gaps and allegations of political complicity persist, fueling public distrust. Akonta Mining previously faced scrutiny in 2022 over unauthorized operations in the protected Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, though charges were later withdrawn.

Ghana’s mining sector contributes significantly to national revenue but struggles to balance economic interests with ecological preservation. While large-scale firms face rigorous oversight, illegal operations, often involving foreign nationals and local networks, continue to evade control. Industry analysts note that inconsistent enforcement and porous regulatory frameworks exacerbate the challenge, allowing high-profile cases to dissolve without resolution.

As debates over resource governance intensify, stakeholders await clarity from regulatory bodies on whether fresh evidence will emerge to corroborate recent allegations. For now, the clash underscores the broader struggle to reconcile artisanal livelihoods, corporate accountability, and environmental sustainability in one of West Africa’s most resource-dependent economies.

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