Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has turned himself in to the Ghana Police Service.

This follows last week’s failed attempt by operatives of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to execute a search warrant at his Kumasi home.

The development comes days after a tense standoff on May 23, when heavily armed national security operatives tried to enter his residence with a court-approved search warrant.

According to JoyNews, the operation was close to leading to an arrest when Chairman Wontumi raised an alarm, drawing a crowd of supporters to the scene.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi

The standoff prompted negotiations between the operatives and Wontumi’s legal team. The operatives eventually withdrew, and Wontumi’s lawyers agreed to present him to the police on Monday.”

JoyNews is learning that the state is pursuing Bernard Antwi Boasiako for his alleged involvement in illegal mining activities through his company, Akonta Mining.

Earlier this month, Land and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah announced the termination of the Akonta Mining lease. Wontumi, however, is challenging the cancellation in court.

His lawyer, Andy Appiah Kubi, is surprised at the turn of events.

“When somebody is asleep and a team of about 20 fully armed security personnel confronts you in the early morning like that, that in itself can constitute a breach of a spinoff,” he said.

But Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi insists the move is lawful and part of due process. “They should go to court if they think that what is going on is wrong. But that will not stop the security services from doing their duty,” he said.Source: Myjoyonline.com