News
Mumford Fishing Harbour: Captain Smart thanks President Mahama for swift intervention
An aspiring parliamentary candidate for Gomoa West Constituency, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for his swift intervention towards the completion of the Mumford Fishing Harbour.
In a letter dated October 15, 2026, addressed to the President, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, writing for and on behalf of Team Smart in the Gomoa West Constituency, expressed profound gratitude for the President’s response to a petition concerning the project.
According to the letter, President Mahama has directed the Central Regional Minister and the Ministry of Transport to visit the project site, undertake the necessary technical assessment and develop a plan for its completion.
“Your directive today… has renewed the hope of an entire coastal community,” Captain Smart stated.
He described the intervention as a demonstration of responsive leadership, noting that the harbour represents the economic heartbeat and future of the fishing community.
“The Mumford Fishing Harbour is more than a physical infrastructure project. It represents the economic heartbeat, collective aspiration and future of a hardworking fishing community. Its completion will improve the safety and productivity of our fisherfolk, strengthen fish handling and processing, stimulate local commerce and create sustainable employment opportunities for the youth,” he said.
He added that the completion of the harbour would also provide economic security for women whose livelihoods depend on fish processing and trading.
According to Team Smart they stands ready to cooperate fully with the Central Regional Minister, the Ministry of Transport and all relevant technical agencies assigned to undertake the site inspection, assessment and completion planning.
“On behalf of Team Smart and the grateful people of Mumford, I say: thank you, Mr President. Thank you for listening. Thank you for acting swiftly. Thank you for restoring hope to the fisherfolk, women, young people and families of Mumford,” the letter concluded.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
An Accra High Court has set November 4, 2026, to rule on the bail application filed by the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The bail application is pending his appeal against a 20-year jail sentence.
The court fixed the date after hearing arguments from both counsel for the applicant and the prosecution.
Chairman Wontumi is seeking bail pending the determination of his appeal challenging the conviction and sentence.
The court will deliver its ruling on whether to grant the bail application on November 4.
The Conviction
On July 20, 2026, an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay convicted Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, on 6 illegal mining-related charges.
He was found guilty of assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and intentionally facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended, in connection with Akonta Mining Company Limited’s operations on the Samreboi concession in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The law provides a custodial sentence of 15 to 25 years for those offences. The court sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 penalty units [GH¢120,000]. The court said failure to pay the fine will attract an additional 3-year term, to run concurrently.
His company, Akonta Mining Company Limited, was also fined after the court considered mitigating circumstances.
Current Bail Application
His legal team filed a bail application pending appeal in August 2026. The application was first scheduled for August 19 but was adjourned. Today, October 15, 2026, the court heard arguments from both sides and fixed November 4, 2026 to rule on whether to grant bail.
The defence argues he is not a flight risk, respected all bail terms before conviction, and that his appeal has 19 grounds with strong prospects of success. The State, represented by Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, opposed bail, arguing he poses a flight risk and that his grounds do not meet the exceptional circumstances threshold for bail after conviction.
Other Cases Pending
Despite the 20-year sentence, he still faces two other major cases:
A Ghana Exim Bank case where he, together with Wontumi Farms Limited and another accused, allegedly obtained over GH¢14.3 million between 2018 and 2022 under false pretences for a farming project, using forged documents, leading to losses exceeding GH¢30 million.
Charges include defrauding by false pretences, uttering forged documents, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to intensify efforts to recover unpaid taxes from public institutions and businesses cited in the Auditor-General’s reports.
The committee asked the Authority to verify the amounts owed and collect outstanding payments from organisations including the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Water Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana.
The call was made when the GRA appeared before the Committee yesterday.
This comes as the GRA reported that it had exceeded its revenue target by the end of September.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei Asare, commended the Authority and the Auditor-General for their work, but called for greater transparency in tax collection, stressing that taxpayers should pay only what is required by law.
Representatives of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) also appeared before the Committee, with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and its agencies expected to appear next.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
