Chairman Wontumi Denies GH₵50 Million COCOBOD Payment Allegations
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has strongly denied allegations that he received GH₵50 million from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) before leaving office.
Addressing the media on May 26 after being granted bail in an unrelated case, Chairman Wontumi described the allegations as entirely false. “It is absolutely untrue that I collected money from COCOBOD,” he stated.
He explained that government construction projects, including roadworks, typically follow a reimbursement model. “When you build a road, the government doesn’t pay upfront,” he said. “Contractors use their own resources, and once the project is completed, engineers assess the work and payments are made based on agreed rates.”
According to Wontumi, contractual terms generally stipulate that payment should be made within 28 days of project completion. However, he alleged that COCOBOD delayed his payment for nearly three years. “So COCOBOD cannot claim they do not owe me,” he added.
The allegations stem from claims that Wontumi received GH₵50 million from former Deputy COCOBOD CEO Emmanuel Ray Ankrah, allegedly in violation of a directive issued by then Chief of Staff Julius Debrah. The directive, which came ahead of a government transition, instructed COCOBOD to halt all payments until the incoming administration had reviewed all outstanding financial certificates.
According to The Ghana Chronicles, a payment of GH₵50,871,800 was made to Chairman Wontumi on January 8, 2025—just days before the new government assumed office.
Chairman Wontumi maintains that the funds in question were legitimate reimbursements for completed work and not an unauthorized transaction. The matter continues to generate public interest as calls for further investigation grow.
