Ghanaian Opposition Official Wontumi Released From Custody In Fraud and Money Laundering Investigation

Source: Africa Publicity

Ghanaian opposition official and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of Ghana’s main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Ghana.

Chairman Wontumi is being investigated over allegations of fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering, the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Justice Dr. Srem-Sai says.

Dr. Srem-Sai in a post on X confirmed that EOCO is leading the investigation, with efforts already being made to recover assets suspected to be linked to Wontumi in criminal activity.

Chairman Wontumi’s lawyers on Monday, June 2, 2025, formally withdrew a motion that sought a review of his Ghc 50 million bail condition.

The motion, originally filed at the High Court in the capital of Ghana, Accra on May 30, 2025, was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, June 3. But it was withdrawn a day earlier.

Chairman Wontumi, one of Ghana’s wealthy personalities, was granted bail on Wednesday, May 28, with two justified sureties.

His legal team, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed that the bail conditions were fulfilled by Friday, May 30.

However, despite meeting the requirements, Wontumi’s release from detention was delayed due to the pending motion for bail review, which his lawyers say was filed without his explicit consent.

After efforts from his lawyers, he was finally released from detention.

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua, a short while ago announced the release of the embattled NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman at the EOCO headquarters.

Addressing NPP supporters at EOCO headquarters on Monday evening, Kodua says “I can confirm that Chairman Wontumi has been released, he’s gone home to relax, we will inform you of any new development. Let’s thank Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi for the support.”