The minority caucus in Parliament has strongly condemned the arrest and continued detention of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). They assert that his arrest is a national disgrace and accuse the government of engaging in politically motivated witch-hunting and intimidation through state security agencies.
During a protest at the headquarters of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on Thursday, 29 May, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh expressed their dissatisfaction and vowed to resist what they perceive as government intimidation. He stated, “We are not here to obstruct investigations. But we are here because a line has been crossed — a dangerous, unacceptable line that signals the state’s power can now be used to humiliate, traumatise, and silence citizens under the pretext of justice. This was not an arrest; it was a clear ambush.”
Annoh-Dompreh further criticized the treatment of Chairman Wontumi, highlighting that he was seized, treated like a criminal, and thrown into detention without dignity or respect for his rights. He emphasized that they will not stand by and allow state agencies to be weaponized for political intimidation, declaring, “We will not permit our democracy to be defiled by power-drunk actors who believe they are above the law.”
Chairman Wontumi was apprehended by EOCO on Tuesday, 27 May, as part of ongoing investigations, the details of which have not been disclosed. Despite falling ill during interrogation on the same day, he has remained in custody. Although he has been granted bail of GH¢50 million, with two sureties to be justified, he has yet to fulfill the conditions for his release.
The situation has led to a heavy security presence at EOCO’s head office, with an increasing number of NPP MPs and supporters gathering to protest the detention of Chairman Wontumi. The issue has sparked outrage and calls for justice within the political landscape, with concerns about the potential misuse of state power for political purposes.
