Top Ghanaian Opposition Official Remains In Detention After Failing To Meet Bail Condition

Source: Africa Publicity

A top Ghanaian opposition politician, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is still in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of Ghana due to failure on the part of his legal team to meet the bail conditions set by EOCO.

Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), is being investigated for his alleged involvement in several criminal activities, including fraud, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.

According to the Deputy Attorney General of Ghana, Justice Srem-Sai, the second phase of the investigation conducted so far has linked Chairman Wontumi to a wider international organised crime syndicate.

Despite being granted a Ghc 50 million bail, his legal team is yet to satisfy the conditions required for his release.

As a result, EOCO has declined to release him.

However, EOCO’s refusal to release Chairman Wontumi has generated political backlash, especially from the NPP Minority in Parliament.

The opposition lawmakers in Parliament have accused EOCO and some persons within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of using Wontumi’s case as a tool for political persecution.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, May 29, 2025, Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, condemned the investigation, describing it as part of an orchestrated scheme by President John Dramani Mahama to undermine the NPP’s influence in the Ashanti Region. The Ashanti Region is traditionally a stronghold of the NPP.

According to Annoh-Dompreh, “This isn’t just legal – it’s political. They want to break our spirit, but we won’t be intimidated.”