Bernard Antwi Boasiako, New Patriotic Party  chairman for the Ashanti Region, spent Tuesday night in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after failing to meet the conditions of a court-ordered bail.

Boasiako—widely known as “Chairman Wontumi”—was granted bail of 50 million Ghanaian cedis (roughly $4.1 million) with two justified sureties. His legal team was unable to fulfill the requirements before the close of business on Tuesday, according to his attorney, Andy Appiah Kubi.

“This is part of an ongoing police enquiry,” Kubi said in a statement to reporters. “We are complying fully, and hopefully, the conditions will be met soon.”

The arrest follows Boasiako’s appearance earlier that day before the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), where he was questioned over alleged involvement in illegal gold mining, or galamsey. The activity has come under increasing government scrutiny amid growing environmental damage and reports of official complicity.

Following the CID session, EOCO officials took Boasiako into custody for further questioning related to a separate but overlapping investigation into suspected financial losses to the state. According to his legal counsel, he is now being investigated for “causing financial loss to the state,” a charge that carries potentially severe legal and political ramifications under Ghanaian anti-corruption statutes.

The case marks a significant development in what appears to be a widening crackdown on illegal mining and its financial networks, which have long posed a challenge to Ghana’s regulatory and law enforcement agencies. Ghana remains one of Africa’s top gold producers, but the sector has been plagued by informality, smuggling, and environmental degradation.

Officials from EOCO and the CID have not commented publicly on the case. Mr.Boasiako’s legal team is expected to make a second attempt to meet bail conditions on Wednesday.

Source: TheDotNews