Ghanaian businessman and politician Bernard Antwi Boasiako hit the headlines on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, after he submitted an audacious bid to acquire English Premier League (EPL) side Chelsea FC.
This is after the club’s Russian owner, Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the team owing to his ties to President Vladimir Putin. Chelsea FC has since been listed for $3 billion.
Boasiako has since stated that he has the financial power to acquire the English Club.
In this article, WoK profile, the businessman who is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and is popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Background & Education
Bernard was born in Ghana on May 1, 1976, and was raised in the country.
According to media reports, he attended private schools both in primary and high school, before proceeding to join Prempeh College.
He completed school in 1996 and was popularly known among his mates as Benghazi.
Further reports indicate that the businessman has lived in the United States before and holds dual citizenship.
Career & Businesses
Bernard began accumulating his wealth at a young age and is said to own over 100 houses in Kumasi.
According to reports, the businessman-cum-politician built his first 25-bedroom house at the age of 22.
In 2020, Bernard launched a new radio and television station in Kumasi to help propagate the policies and programs of the ruling NPP party ahead of that year’s general elections.
He is currently the owner of the mining firm, Hansol Company Limited.
Buying Chelsea
On March 9, the 45-year-old made a bid of $3.1 billion for the English club which is valued at £3 billion.
Speaking to a local Ghanaian daily, Bernard dismissed allegations by people who had viewed his bid as a joke.
“Do you see me as a joke person? So is money supposed to be given, owned by angels or ghosts? At the moment, we are bidding so I don’t want to talk a lot. My lawyers and my financiers are going so once they finish everything, there will be more details. And I’m not the only person [bidding] so I don’t want to talk too much.
“Once they conclude, my finance is yes, and I will sit with my team to discuss it,” he said.
He confirmed that he has since submitted an official bid for the club and that his lawyer is in London in an attempt to seal the deal.
“Of course, yes. My lawyer is there now so let’s just wait. The money is there, I live in a palace, not a mansion.
“We are like 15 people who have shown interest to buy the club, there are Americans, Turkish but I’m the only African,” he said.
Bernard’s letter to Chelsea as signed by Andy Owusu, office manager of the Wontumi Group of Companies, reads as follows;
“I am informed of the intention by the owner of your reputable club, Mr Roman Abramovich, to put up Chelsea Football Club for sale. I am by this letter writing to officially declare my intention for the purchase of same. My official bid is in the range of three-point one billion dollars ($3.1B).
“My legal team and transactional advisors are ready to engage in negotiations.”
