Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was released Monday evening from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after meeting stringent bail conditions.

Wontumi had been in detention since May 27, following his arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud, money laundering, and the suspected causing of financial loss to the state. He was granted bail set at GH₵50 million (approximately $4 million), with two sureties required to be justified.

NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua confirmed the release, noting that Wontumi’s legal team, led by attorney and Member of Parliament Andy Appiah-Kubi, had completed the necessary documentation for the bail package by Friday, May 30. The process was reportedly facilitated in part by former Minister for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong, who served as one of the sureties. According to Appiah-Kubi, the value of Acheampong’s submitted documentation “far exceeded” the required threshold.

Despite satisfying the bail conditions late last week, Wontumi’s release was delayed by what his legal team described as an “unexpected legal challenge” — an application filed to review the bail conditions. That application was formally withdrawn on Monday, clearing the final obstacle to his release.

The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings have stirred significant political tension in Ghana. Members of the NPP caucus in Parliament, along with party executives and grassroots supporters, staged demonstrations criticizing the bail conditions as excessive and alleging political bias.

A hearing on the motion to review the bail conditions had been scheduled for June 3, but the applicant’s withdrawal ended that process ahead of schedule.

EOCO has not commented publicly on the investigation’s next steps. Under the terms of his release, Wontumi is expected to cooperate fully with the ongoing probe.

Source:TheDotNews