Wontumi Remains in EOCO Custody as Minority MPs End Protest; Lawyer Optimistic GH¢50m Bail Will Be Met by Friday
Despite being granted bail over 24 hours ago, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako—widely known as Chairman Wontumi—remains in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). He is now expected to spend a second night behind bars as efforts to meet his bail conditions are yet to be finalized.
Wontumi was arrested and is currently under investigation for allegedly causing financial loss to the state. On Wednesday, EOCO granted him bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with two sureties, both of whom must provide justification through bank statements or valid documentation proving ownership of property valued at the bond amount.
According to the EOCO’s terms, the stringent bail conditions are intended to ensure Wontumi’s availability for ongoing investigations. If he fails to appear when needed or absconds, the sureties will forfeit the bail amount to the state.
Legal counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah Kubi, confirmed that the bail has not yet been executed, though steps are actively being taken to fulfill the requirements. Speaking to Graphic Online’s Justice Agbenorsi, Appiah Kubi expressed optimism that the conditions would be met by Friday, May 30.
“We’re still in the process of putting together the required documentation from the sureties. It’s a substantial amount, and the justification process is rigorous. However, we are confident that by Friday, we’ll have everything in place,” Appiah Kubi noted.
When asked whether the legal team might consider applying for a variation of the bail terms, Appiah Kubi dismissed the possibility. “That’s not on the table right now,” he said. “Our focus remains on meeting the existing conditions rather than seeking a modification.”
While legal procedures continue, the situation has sparked political unrest, particularly among opposition lawmakers. Earlier in the day, members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament staged a protest outside the EOCO headquarters in Accra. Led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the MPs temporarily blocked a main access road—Independence Link—demanding the immediate release of Chairman Wontumi.
The protest caused significant traffic disruptions and drew widespread attention. The Minority MPs argued that the bail conditions imposed on Wontumi were excessive and politically motivated. They accused the EOCO of engaging in a selective application of justice, targeting opposition figures under the guise of legal accountability.
Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh voiced strong opposition to the treatment of Wontumi, stating, “If there are genuine issues to investigate, let it be done transparently and fairly. What we’ve seen is not justice but political persecution. This is a shameful moment in our democratic development.”
He continued, “The Minority remains united and steadfast. We will speak truth to power and pursue justice, no matter the consequences. Ghana must not become a place where political dissent is punished, or where opposition voices are silenced through state institutions.”
Following several hours of protest, the MPs dispersed peacefully, though their actions and statements have intensified the political conversation surrounding Wontumi’s arrest and EOCO’s broader investigative approach.
Chairman Wontumi, a high-profile figure within the ruling NPP, has not publicly commented on the matter since his arrest. His detention and the ongoing legal proceedings are being closely monitored by both political observers and the general public.
As efforts continue to fulfill the GH¢50 million bail requirement, attention now shifts to Friday, when Wontumi’s legal team hopes to secure his release. Until then, he remains in EOCO custody, at the center of a case that has swiftly become a flashpoint in Ghana’s evolving political and legal landscape.
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