The legal team of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, has successfully met the bail conditions imposed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office.
However, a pending court motion is reportedly impeding his quick release.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, May 30, lead attorney Andy Appiah-Kubi informed party supporters and the general public that Chairman Wontumi was in good health and in stable condition while in detention.
“He is good, he is healthy, and there is nothing to worry about,” Appiah-Kubi added, allaying fears that had grown since Wontumi’s detention.
The NPP stalwart was granted bail by EOCO on Wednesday, May 28, in the amount of GHS 50 million with two reasonable sureties. According to Appiah-Kubi, the bail requirements have now been entirely met.
“We were able to offer the sureties. “That one, I assure you,” he said. He went on to express his deepest gratitude to Abetifi MP and former Minister for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong, whose involvement helped secure the requisite papers to meet the bail conditions.
“I am quite grateful to Honourable Bryan Acheampong for assisting me in supplying the paperwork. He has brought documents that exceed the amount of money requested,” Appiah-Kubi remarked.
Despite meeting the bail requirements, the legal team faced an unexpected legal challenge. Appiah-Kubi revealed that a court application had been filed—unknown to him at the time—complicating the process of obtaining Wontumi’s release.
“Unknown to me, an application was filed that prohibits us from securing his release,” he told me.
The request, filed by Marfo & Associates in the High Court of Accra, seeks a review of the bail conditions and may attempt to change or suspend the restrictions already set by EOCO. The actual text and legal grounds of the move have yet to be made public, but insiders close to the case believe it could postpone Wontumi’s release for several days.
On Tuesday, May 27, Chairman Wontumi was originally interrogated by the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), before being picked up by EOCO for further inquiry. He is currently being investigated for potential financial malfeasance, which may include links to public financial losses.
The matter has attracted widespread political and public attention, with prominent NPP officials, including former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, visiting the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to check on his well-being.
As of Friday evening, substantial security was still stationed around the NIB buildings, and party supporters continued to gather in solidarity as court processes progressed.
