Bernard Antwi Boasiako is NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman

Andy Appiah-Kubi, lead counsel for embattled NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has described the application filed by NPP Director of Legal Affairs, Gary Nimako, seeking a review of Wontumi’s bail conditions as “incompetent and worthless”.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Friday, July 4,2025, Andy Appiah-Kubi, who is also the former MP for Asante-Akim North, questioned the legal basis of the application, describing it as fundamentally flawed.

“Honestly, that application was also incompetent. Because that application was a simple motion for review of the bail condition and it was incompetent. It ought to have come by an originating motion.

"Because there was no pending matter in the court upon which you could have situated that motion. So, it was incompetent, and I speak to it that it was incompetent.

"And let somebody challenge me with a superior legal opinion.”

Appiah-Kubi added that the court’s jurisdiction cannot be invoked through an ordinary motion in the absence of an existing case, insisting that the proper legal process was not followed.

“But when there is no matter before a court, and you want to solicit the court’s attention, you indicate the law that brings you to the court. And that is why we say it is an originating motion. Because there is nothing pending before the court upon which you would situate a regular motion.”

“So, it was for another lawyer to have come to court to tell the court that, how do you come to the court? How do you invoke the jurisdiction of the court? This one, you didn’t come properly. And this application is incompetent and worthless.”

Chairman Wontumi is facing investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over alleged financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.

Despite being granted GH₵50 million bail with two justified sureties on May 28, 2025, delays in meeting the bail conditions prolonged his stay in custody.

The bail terms, which required sureties to prove ownership of assets equivalent to the bail amount, were described by his legal team as excessive and designed to frustrate his release.

In an effort to ease the bail conditions, Gary Nimako filed an application on May 30, requesting the court to reconsider the terms.

However, the application was withdrawn on June 2, a day before the scheduled hearing.

After weeks of back-and-forth, Wontumi was eventually released after successfully meeting the bail conditions.

He is currently out of custody as EOCO’s investigations continue, with sections of the NPP raising concerns over what they describe as politically motivated attempts to target him.