Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, has revealed that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, is being investigated for several serious criminal charges, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.
Justice Srem-Sai announced in a statement made on his official X account (previously Twitter) that the inquiry is being overseen by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). He also informed us that asset recovery procedures are now ongoing to secure suspected criminal proceeds.
“Suspect BERNARD ANTWI BOASIAKO, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi, is under investigation for various criminal offences (including fraud, causing financial loss to the State, and money laundering),” the statement added.
He also claimed that the criminal investigation is being handled concurrently with asset recovery actions to “prevent further dissipation of what law enforcement agencies strongly suspect to be proceeds of crime.”
Justice Srem-Sai also confirmed that a second phase of the probe is underway. This phase, he explained, is linked to a larger international organised crime network. EOCO is claimed to be working closely with international law enforcement organisations to investigate Chairman Wontumi’s alleged involvement in the global plan.
“The suspect is also the subject of a second investigation, which is part of a wider international organised crime plot. The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is closely collaborating with our foreign law enforcement colleagues on this second strand of criminal investigations,” he said.
The findings come at a moment of high political tension, with the NPP minority in Parliament accusing President John Mahama of politically targeting Wontumi through criminal probes.
Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is a well-known figure inside the party and a crucial actor in its campaign operations.
While EOCO has yet to publish an official statement on the topic, the Deputy Attorney General’s admission is the clearest indication thus far of the gravity and breadth of the charges against the NPP stalwart.
