Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, in 2020 revealed that his mining business was generating approximately $1 million daily.
His mining company, Hansol Company Ltd, was among the most successful and prominent mining firms, primarily operating in the Western region.
However, Chairman Wontumi recounted on Good Evening Ghana with Paul Adom Otchere how former President John Dramani Mahama’s alleged political persecution caused his business to collapse overnight during his administration.
Chairman Wontumi disclosed that at one point, former President Mahama called for a meeting with him due to reports alleging his involvement in illegal mining.
These reports led to demands from officials for his business to be shut down. However, after presenting evidence of his licenses and legal permits to operate, former President Mahama acknowledged his compliance with regulations and even sought his support in politics.
“I told him mining is not a bad thing. Every country need a mining, if you have a resources, you need it to develop your…but you have to regularize it or make a good policy for it. But to me, I have a legitimate license they’ve signed for me. This is my license, so he see everything true.
“Then he said, oooh this guy you’re too smart,because that time i was making about $1 million a day,” the vociferous politician revealed.
Chairman Wontumi, the Managing Director of HANSOL Mining Limited, revealed that he faced targeting by the former leader after declining a request to switch political allegiance with his wealth.
In 2013, Wontumi’s mining company was raided by an inter-ministerial task force, comprising security personnel, on suspicion of involving Chinese nationals in illegal mining activities.
The task force reportedly looted valuables, including money, gold, and equipment, and set the premises on fire, despite finding no foreigners on site.
Wontumi accused the government, led by then-President John Dramani Mahama, of deliberately attacking his business. He detailed the ordeal endured by himself and his staff, noting that his company had 500 excavators before the raid but could only account for 200 afterward.
Concerned about the raid’s impact, Wontumi pursued legal action, leading to a reported judgment debt of US$1 billion.