National Security officers were there to invite Wontumi — Deputy Minister of Interior

Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has clarified the events surrounding the attempted arrest of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, stating that the visit by security operatives to his Kumasi residence was merely to invite him for questioning.

The incident, which occurred on the morning of Friday, May 23, involved officers from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and sparked a tense standoff after supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) gathered at the scene in protest. The operatives eventually withdrew without making an arrest.

Wontumi, believed to have been inside the house at the time, reportedly assured officers that he would respond to any formal invitation on Monday, May 26, 2025.

Despite the peaceful withdrawal, the strong show of force—marked by heavily armed personnel—was met with outrage by party loyalists. Responding to the backlash in a radio interview on Citi FM later that evening, Deputy Minister Terlabi defended the operation and urged the public not to overreact.

"The security services are on top of their job, they know what they are about and there is nobody in this country who is above the law. When you fall foul of the law, the law will come at you," he stated.

He emphasized that security operations are guided by intelligence, and that the presence at Wontumi’s home was not arbitrary.

"Yes, the information is that the security team went there, I am yet to get the details but what I am saying is that they did not go to Wontumi's house without intel and I don't think I can share all those details on air," he explained, urging the public to allow security agencies to carry out their duties without interference.

Terlabi also cautioned against inciting public sentiment against the security forces.

"They did not go there to go and kill him, they went there to invite him, so if at the end of the day, they decided otherwise that he should be brought on Monday, so be it," he said.

Addressing concerns raised by Wontumi about the use of armed personnel for what was described as a simple invitation, the deputy minister stood by the approach.

"My brother, I am sure you and I will call the security services names if they go there unprepared... the kind of things he [Wontumi] says on air to the extent that even there was a time he was throwing a challenge to the security personnel and the sitting President... in the event that he was trying to do something untoward, the security services must be prepared, that is not to say that they were going there to shoot him down. Because the gentleman in question has made all manner of statements..., if you are to go and catch a wild dog, you don't go there without arming yourself."

The Deputy Minister’s remarks come amid growing political tension, with many closely watching how the state handles high-profile figures in opposition circles.