Bernard Antwi Boasiako is the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman

The arrest and continued detention of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) appear to have divided the party.

While a faction in the party are protesting the continuous detention of Chairman Wontumi, a few party faithful, including counsel of the embattled NPP executive, Andy Appiah-Kubi, have approached the matter with cool heads.

Despite backlash from some leading members who are making all kinds of accusations against the government and EOCO- Andy Appiah-Kubi and his ‘supporters’ have countered these claims, insisting on, “staying out of the politics and theatrics to proceed with the work within the law.”

Here are some of the actions and utterances of the NPP leadership which have been discredited by Wontumi’s lawyer.

Random-style arrest:

The first claim the NPP made and which was discredited by Appiah-Kubi is the nature of his arrest.

The General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua, expressed dismay at the conduct of EOCO operatives over the arrest of Wontumi, which he described as a ‘rambo-style.’

“We are very surprised because this is a person who was invited by the Ghana Police Service and he honoured that invitation. If indeed, in good faith, EOCO also wanted to invite him, they could have done so.

"For the sanctity of our democracy, we don’t need to go through this drama and this rambo-style of arresting people. We don’t need try and show that we are in government and we have the power," he said on JoyNews.

However, Appiah-Kubi swiftly countered the assertion stating that there was nothing ‘rambo-style’ about his client's arrest.

Speaking in an interview with Oyerepa TV/FM on Friday, May 30, 2025, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi clarified that a warrant was issued for Wontumi's arrest by EOCO.

"Let me explain that the type of arrest they made was an arrest under warrant. There was an arrest warrant for Chairman Wontumi. So, if there is anything wrong, it should be the law and not the approach.

"The law states that EOCO, as an entity, has the same powers as the police - that is the EOCO Act. So, their work is just like that of the police and includes arresting upon warrant," he explained in Twi dialect.

Unlawful detention:

Leading figures of the NPP have accused EOCO of illegally detaining Wontumi. The Minority in Parliament consequently staged a walkout during proceedings - taking to the streets to sit on the floor at the EOCO head office on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

Before the walkout, the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, lambasted the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for illegally detaining Chairman Wontumi, who he said is unwell.

He accused EOCO of deliberately setting an illegal bail of GH¢50 million to keep him in their custody.

"If the state is minded, do your interrogation, grant him bail, self-recognisance to enable him come. The man is a chairman of a political party and is always available. If, as it were, Chairman Wontumi was granted bail and he abused the terms of the bail, then you can now demand justification.

"Mr Speaker, I must argue one more time that EOCO cannot arrogate the power of demanding justification at the inquiry level. You are doing an investigation. The matter is not before a court for trial. And then you make the bail condition so onerous," he said.

Again, Andy Appiah-Kubi shot down this claim. In the interview with Oyerepa TV/FM, the lawyer and former NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante-Akim North said that the only thing keeping his client in the custody of EOCO is their failure to meet the conditions of the bail he was granted.

He also explained that because there was a warrant for Wontumi's arrest, his continued detention by EOCO after 48 hours was not illegal.

"Because he was arrested under warrant, the 48-hour rule under the Criminal Procedure Code does not apply," he said.

He added that the rule in the criminal code for a suspect to be released after 48 hours only applies to arrests without warrants.

Wontumi’s hunger strike:

The claim of the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, that Wontumi was on a hunger strike was also refuted by Appiah-Kubi.

Providing the update on Friday, May 30, 2025, in an interview on Peace FM, Annoh-Dompreh stated that Chairman Wontumi personally decided to go on a hunger strike following his arrest and continued detention by EOCO.

He said that Wontumi has not eaten since his arrest on May 27, 2025, three days since held by the security agency, and remains steadfast in his resolve.

"... The truth is that he [Wontumi] says he will not eat and has not eaten since his arrest. In fact, that is a decision he has taken upon himself, and it's a hunger strike," he said.

Appiah-Kubi shared a post on social media refuting Annoh-Dompreh’s claim that his client has refused to eat.

Countersuits:

Wontumi’s bail condition, according to his lawyer, was to be met on Friday evening, but because of a suit filed on the blind side of Appiah-Kubi, he had to spend the weekend in jail.

Appiah-Kubi confirmed that he and his team had successfully met the GH¢50 million bail requirement with two sureties, stating, "We have been able to provide the sureties; that one I can assure you."

“However, despite clearing the bail conditions, Chairman Wontumi will remain in detention over the weekend due to a new legal complication”, he said.

"We encountered a challenge, a legal challenge unknown to me; there was an application that prohibited us," Appiah-Kubi revealed.

He added that this unexpected development would be addressed in court on Monday.

The suit, according to reports, was filed by the Director of Legal Affairs for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gary Nimako, on the instructions of Wontumi’s wife.

BAI/VPO

Wontumi would’ve personally satisfied ₵50 million bail condition if legally permitted – Appiah-Kubi