Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is spearheading high-level efforts to secure the release of Bernard Antwi Boasiako—widely known as Chairman Wontumi—following his arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Mr. Boasiako, the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, was taken into EOCO custody on May 27 amid an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud, financial mismanagement, and money laundering. On May 28, a court granted him bail set at GHS 50 million (approximately $4 million), but he remains in detention after failing to meet the terms of the bond.
The arrest and subsequent bail conditions have triggered political turbulence in Accra, drawing criticism from opposition lawmakers who have labeled the conditions “punitive” and “politically charged.” Minority Members of Parliament staged a boycott in protest, adding to the mounting pressure on authorities.
In an interview with Citi News, Divine Agorhom, NPP Chairman for the Greater Accra Region, confirmed that top-tier party officials are closely coordinating to navigate the legal and political challenges of securing Mr. Boasiako’s release.
“It is not only His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia but every senior party person,” Mr. Agorhom said. “We are hoping that EOCO will consider adjusting the conditions to make them more attainable.”
Mr. Agorhom noted that the party is pursuing parallel legal strategies aimed at revising the bail terms and, if necessary, pooling financial resources to meet them. “If all that fails, then we will have to pull resources and see what we can do to get him out,” he added.
The case has reverberated through the ranks of the ruling party, exposing internal strain as it prepares for what is expected to be a fiercely contested general election in December. With Mr. Boasiako wielding significant influence in the vote-rich Ashanti Region—long a stronghold for the NPP—his continued detention poses both logistical and symbolic challenges for the party’s leadership.
Source:TheDotNews