Wontumi remains in EOCO custody as he fails to meet bail conditions

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, remains in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after his legal team failed to meet the conditions of his GHS50 million bail.

Wontumi is being investigated for a range of serious offences, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.

According to Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai, the probe has now entered a second phase, with investigators reportedly uncovering possible links between Wontumi and an international organised crime syndicate.

Despite being granted bail, Wontumi’s legal representatives have so far been unable to fulfill the requirements for his temporary release. EOCO has therefore refused to release the NPP regional boss, a decision that has sparked sharp criticism from his party.

The case has quickly evolved into a political flashpoint, with growing agitation among the NPP’s grassroots and leadership. Many within the party see Wontumi’s detention as a calculated effort to weaken their base in the Ashanti Region, the NPP’s traditional stronghold.

While EOCO insists that the case is based strictly on evidence and ongoing investigations, the political tensions surrounding it continue to escalate. For now, Chairman Wontumi remains behind bars, his legal fate tied to a case that is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged legal battles in recent memory.

The NPP Minority in Parliament is leading the charge, accusing EOCO and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of weaponising state institutions to target political opponents.