Wontumi denies galamsey deals with Charles Opoku

THE ASHANTI Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has denied reports that he is into illegal mining activities with Charles Opoku, the party’s defeated Parliamentary Candidate for the Assin North by-elections.

Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as ‘Wontumi’ in the political circles, virtually, relocated from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to Assin North in the Central Region to campaign vigorously for Charles Opoku, ahead of the by-election.

After the Assin North by-election, which the NPP lost miserably, there have been reports in the media that Wontumi is into illegal mining also known as ‘Galamsey’, with Charles Opoku, hence his decision to campaign for Charles Opoku.

But in a sharp rebuttal on Kessben FM in Kumasi, Wontumi stated emphatically that there was no iota of truth in the reports that was being spread in both the traditional and social media so the public should treat it with contempt.

“I haven’t done any mining activity with Charles Opoku in my life before. I only got to know him when he was elected as NPP candidate for Assin North by election and as a loyal party man, I decided to go to Assin North and help him.

“These are all wild rumours that are being generated by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) just to tarnish my image but it will not work. And a point of correction, I do small scale mining, I don’t do illegal mining”.

Wontumi also challenged those that are spreading rumours that the Assin North by-election victory for the NDC was a strong indication that the NDC would topple the NPP in 2024 and form the next government.

“The NDC victory in Assin North by-election doesn’t change anything. The seat was for NDC and we wanted to win it or snatch it from them but it didn’t work. It’s not a big deal, this doesn’t mean we shall lose the 2024 polls”.

Wontumi also said the NPP has learnt important lessons from their defeat in Assin North and they would make the necessary corrections in order to win the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections and remain in power.