CHAIRMAN WONTUMI RELEASED BY EOCO AFTER MEETING BAIL CONDITIONS
Opposition Ashanti Regional Chairman granted GH₵50 million bail amid ongoing fraud investigations
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after meeting the stringent bail conditions set by the court.
The NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua, confirmed the release on the evening of Monday, June 2, 2025, praising Dr. Bryan Acheampong for standing as one of the sureties that facilitated Wontumi’s freedom.
Chairman Wontumi was granted bail with an amount set at GH₵50 million and required two sureties to be justified. He was initially arrested on May 27, 2025, amid ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud, money laundering, causing financial loss to the state, and purported links to an international organised crime syndicate, as disclosed by Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai.
The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) is also independently preparing a docket related to the investigations into Wontumi’s activities, separate from probes by EOCO and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Wontumi’s release followed days of legal wrangling and political activism. His legal team initially faced challenges meeting the hefty bail conditions, resulting in prolonged detention. However, by May 30, 2025, lead counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi confirmed that all necessary documentation for both sureties had been submitted, with significant assistance from former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
Though bail conditions were met on May 30, an unexpected legal challenge seeking to review the bail terms delayed Wontumi’s release. This application was withdrawn on June 2, clearing the path for his freedom.
During his detention, NPP MPs and party supporters staged protests, condemning the bail conditions as excessive and politically motivated. The scheduled court hearing to review the bail terms on June 3, 2025, was rendered moot after the application was withdrawn.
Chairman Wontumi’s release is conditional upon full cooperation with ongoing investigations.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
