Wontumi
The embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has filed an application at the High Court to vary the GH¢50 million bail granted him by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
His legal team have described the bail which is to be justified by two sureties with landed property, as excessive and are seeking the court to substantially reduce it to a “reasonable” figure and terms.
The motion, scheduled for June 3, 2025, indicates that “TAKE NOTICE that Counsel for and on behalf of the Applicant herein will move this Honourable Court on an application praying for an Order of Court reviewing the bail conditions imposed by the 1st Respondent (EOCO) on the Applicant under investigation upon the grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit.”
Chairman Wontumi was arrested by EOCO on May 27, 2025, moments after he exited the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the police headquarters in Accra, where he is facing interrogations for allegedly entering and mining in a forest reserve without authorisation.
The arrest and detention of Wontumi has generated both public and political interest as well as uproar among sections of the public, with the Minority Members of Parliament and leadership of the NPP staging a protest at EOCO, by sitting on the bare floor on the road opposite the anti-graft body.
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai has clarified that the suspect is under investigation for various criminal offences, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.
He indicated on his social media handle that the “criminal investigation is running concurrently with asset recovery processes – to prevent further dissipation of what law enforcement agencies strongly suspect to be proceeds of crime.”
Dr. Srem-Sai further indicated that Chairman Wontumi is also under a second strand of investigation which is part of a larger international organised crime scheme, adding that EOCO “is assiduously working with our international law enforcement partners on this second strand of criminal investigations.”
In the heat of a streak of protests staged by the NPP members and their leadership for his release, EOCO transferred him to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), amid heightened tension.
On May 30, 2025, former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the NPP in the 2024 election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the leadership of the party were granted access to the NIB facility where Chairman Wontumi was being held.
Confusion
Information available indicates that the two sureties have been secured and are ready to execute the bail terms for Chairman Wontumi’s release.
However, the decision to file an application for the variation of the bail terms has overtaken the attempts being made to meet the EOCO bail terms.
There appeared to be a bit of confusion between his legal team and leaves many wondering whether the decision to file the application was not properly communicated among them.
Andy Appiah Kubi, a member of Chairman Wontumi’s legal team, speaking in a media interview indicated that they had satisfied the bail condition and had it not been for the application, they would have wrapped things up last Saturday, noting that “sadly, we are constrained.”
“If this application is pending, it will prevent them from moving forward with the negotiations. Otherwise, we must wait… because while this application is pending, none of us can proceed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Director of Legal Affairs for the NPP, Gary Nimako Marfo who filed the application to vary the bail conditions, has indicated that he filed the application based on conversations he had with Chairman Wontumi’s aide.
“I inquired whether the bail had been satisfied, and he said no. He then mentioned a variation application,” Mr. Nimako indicated in an interview.
He further stated that Chairman Wontumi’s wife contacted him directly, and based on the information available at the time, he decided to proceed to file the application for bail variation.
“It is legally untenable to assert that a bail variation application can frustrate the execution of a bail bond. Once the documents provided meet the bail conditions, which in this case is a GH¢50 million bond. The individual should be released,” Mr. Nimako emphasised.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak