Legal chaos between Wontumi's wife & lawyers keeps him detained
The spouse and legal team of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias “Chairman Wontumi,” have left many Ghanaians confused, about their strategic procedure for getting him out of his current predicament.
Two of the three lawyers, are now blaming one another for the delay in his release. However, the conflict was sparked by Wontumi’s wife, who, desperate to have her husband freed, enlisted a new lawyer, distinct from the two who initially represented him.
Chairman Wontumi’s current legal team, comprises Godfred Yeboah Dame, the immediate past Minister for Justice and Attorney-General; Andy Appiah-Kubi, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akim North; and the new lawyer, Gary Nimako Marfo, the NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs, whose involvement has complicated matters further.
While, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has been working to secure the GH₵50 million bail bond to facilitate Wontumi’s release from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) custody, Gary Nimako Marfo, acting on the instructions of Wontumi’s wife, filed a motion at the High Court in Accra seeking a review of the bail conditions.
The Herald has learnt that Nimako Marfo’s motion to vary or suspend the bail terms already set by EOCO is scheduled to be heard tomorrow, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Meaning Wontumi will have to spend another day in the cells.
Nimako Marfo’s application, was filed just as Appiah-Kubi, described by many as calm, tactful and politically astute, announced that all bail conditions set by EOCO, had been successfully met.
Godfred Yeboah Dame, who had earlier accompanied Wontumi to the Kumasi police, has remained silent on the case, fuelling uncertainty about his continued involvement in defending the man who calls himself the “Governor of Kumasi.”
Speaking to journalists on Friday, May 30, lead counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi assured party supporters and the public that Chairman Wontumi, was in good health and stable condition while in custody.
“He is good, he is healthy, and there is nothing to worry about,” Appiah-Kubi said, calming concerns that had grown since Wontumi’s arrest.
EOCO granted the NPP stalwart bail on Wednesday, May 28, for GHS 50 million with two justified sureties. According to Appiah-Kubi, those bail conditions have now been fully met.
“We have been able to provide the sureties. That one, I can assure you,” he confirmed.
He went on to express his heartfelt appreciation to Abetifi MP and former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, whose intervention helped secure the necessary documentation to satisfy the bail terms.
“I am very grateful to Honourable Bryan Acheampong, who has supported me in providing the documents. He has brought documents that are over and above the value of the money required,” Appiah-Kubi added.
Despite fulfilling the bail conditions, the legal team encountered an unexpected legal hurdle. Appiah-Kubi disclosed that a court motion had been filed, which was unknown to him at the time, which complicated the process of securing Wontumi’s release.
“Unknown to me, an application was filed that prohibits us from securing his release,” he revealed.
Garry Marfo seeks a review of the bail conditions to alter or suspend the terms previously set by EOCO. The motion’s exact content and legal grounds are yet to be made public, but sources close to the case suggest it could delay Wontumi’s release for several more days.
Chairman Wontumi was initially interrogated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Tuesday, May 27, before EOCO picked him up for further investigation. He is currently under investigation for alleged financial misconduct, including possible links to economic losses to the state.
The case has sparked significant political and public interest. Top NPP figures, including former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, visit the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to check on his welfare.
As of Friday evening, heavy security remained stationed around the NIB premises, and party supporters continued to gather in solidarity as legal proceedings unfolded.
According to Appiah-Kubi, former Food and Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong played a pivotal role in securing the GHC50 million bail to have the embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition NPP.
Acheampong offered property documents exceeding the bail value, a key requirement set by EOCO in granting conditional release.
“I am extremely grateful to Honourable Bryan Acheampong. He voluntarily submitted property documentation that exceeds the bail value. That has helped meet the two sureties justified condition,” the lawyer told reporters.
Wontumi’s release has hit a procedural snag despite fulfilling the bail terms. A fresh application filed by unidentified individuals is holding up the process.
“It’s an application I didn’t file. It has put a hold on things. We’ll deal with it in court on Monday,” Appiah-Kubi stated.
Wontumi was arrested earlier last week for fraud, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering allegations. His detention by EOCO has sparked political and public interest, with varying narratives circulating online. Among them was a claim that the NPP chairman was on a hunger strike.
However, his legal team has refuted those reports, confirming that Wontumi is in stable condition and receiving adequate medical care while in custody.
For now, Wontumi remains in EOCO’s custody, awaiting the outcome of the latest legal hurdle.
Gary Nimako Marfo, has rejected claims that an application for bail variation filed on behalf of Chairman Wontumi, was responsible for delays in executing his bail.
In an interview on Movement TV on Saturday, May 31, 2025, he narrated the sequence of events leading up to the filing of the application, indicating that at about 3:00 PM on Friday, May 20, 2025, Chairman Wontumi’s aide approached him regarding the status of the bail conditions.
“I inquired whether the bail had been satisfied, and he said no. He then mentioned a variation application,” he said.
According to him, Chairman Wontumi’s wife also contacted him directly. “Based on the information available at the time, I told them I would proceed to file the application for the bail variation,” he stated.
However, Gary Nimako said he was later taken aback when suggestions began circulating that the variation application had somehow obstructed the bail process.
He described such claims as legally flawed and unfair.
“It is legally untenable to assert that a bail variation application can frustrate the execution of a bail bond. Once the documents provided meet the bail conditions, which in this case is a GH¢50 million bond. The individual should be released,” he emphasised.
He explained that the purpose of a variation application is not to block or delay a bail bond but to seek an alternative arrangement where necessary.
“It is misleading and legally disingenuous to blame me or any party official for delays caused by unrelated administrative matters. The variation has no bearing on the execution of the bond if the documents are in order,” he added.
Gary Nimako further expressed disappointment in how the situation has been handled, particularly by individuals close to the matter.
“The way Andy has handled this issue is very unfair. I have requested all the relevant documents to ensure the bail process is concluded properly”, he added.
Counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah Kubi has confirmed that despite having met all bail conditions, his client will not be going home yet due to a fresh legal application filed earlier in the day.
