The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been released by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after meeting his bail conditions.
Wontumi’s legal team on Monday, June 2, formally withdrew a motion that sought a review of his GH¢50 million bail condition. The motion, originally filed at the High Court in Accra on May 30, 2025, was slated for hearing on Tuesday, June 3. However, it was withdrawn a day earlier on Monday, June 2. He was granted bail on Wednesday, May 28, with two justified sureties. His legal team, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed that the bail conditions were fulfilled by Friday, May 30.
Despite meeting the requirements, his release was delayed due to the pending motion for bail review, which, according to his lawyers, was filed without his explicit consent.
But after a gruelling legal efforts, Wontumi’s lawyers have successfully secured his release from detention.
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua, a short while ago announced the release of the embattled NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman at the EOCO headquarters.
“I can confirm that Chairman Wontumi has been released, he’s gone home to relax, we will inform you of any new development. Let’s thank Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi for the support,” he told supporters at EOCO Monday evening.
Wontumi is expected to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigations following his release after nearly a week in detention.
Chairman Wontumi is currently under a major criminal investigation over allegations of fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering, according to Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Srem-Sai confirmed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is leading the investigation, with efforts already underway to recover assets suspected to be linked to criminal activity.
“Suspect BERNARD ANTWI BOASIAKO, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi, is under investigation for various criminal offences (including fraud, causing financial loss to the State, and money laundering),” the Deputy Attorney General stated.
He further disclosed that the investigation has two components: one targeting domestic crimes and another involving a more complex international dimension.
“The suspect is also under a second strand of investigation which is part of a larger international organised crime scheme. The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is assiduously working with our international law enforcement partners on this second strand of criminal investigations,” Mr Srem-Sai revealed.
