Why Chairman Wontumi is spending weekend in custody

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako a.k.a Chairman Wontumi’s hope of spending the weekend outside of the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) was  on Friday blighted with an application for bail variation at the High Court. 

While officers at EOCO were ready to vet documents presented by the Member of Parliament of Abetifi constituency in the Eastern Region, Bryan Acheampong, through Chairman Womtumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, they were notified of a fresh application for review of the GHC 50m bail bond issued by EOCO.

In fact Mr Acheampong’s title documents was valued more than the GH¢50million bail bond granted to Chairman Wontumi.

However, EOCO officers could not begin the vetting of the documents due to the application for bail variation.

Counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Appiah-Kubi, told journalists that unknown to him, the application for bail variation which was filed on May 30, 2025 came to his attention Friday evening, preventing him and the officers of EOCO from proceeding to vet Mr Acheampong’s documents.

As such, Chairman Wontumi would have to spend the weekend in custody until the High Court makes a determination on the application for bail review which was filed by Gary Nimako Marfo.

This is because the application has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

In light of the fact that Chairman Womtumi has already secured a surety through counsel Appiah-Kubi, Mr Nimako Marfo has an option to withdraw his application for bail review which has been slated for Tuesday in order to pave the way for EOCO officers to vet Mr Acheampong’s documents on Monday (June 2) for Chairman Womtumi to be released on bail pending investigations.

Allegations  

Chairman Wontumi is under investigations for multiple criminal offences including fraud, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state, the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai stated on Thurrday.

According to the Deputy A-G, the ongoing criminal investigation is running concurrently with asset recovery efforts to prevent the suspected proceeds of crime from being dissipated.

He also gave a hint of a second strand of investigations involving Chairman Wontumi’s alleged role in a larger international organised crime scheme.

EOCO is said to be working closely with international law enforcement partners in this regard, he indicated.

Chairman Wontumi has already spent three nights in custody for failing to meet the bail conditions.

He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with two sureties to be justified.

He is to get at most two people to present documents either bank statements or proof of title of landed properties worth the bail bond.

This is to assure EOCO that he will avail himself for investigations.

In the event that he jumps bail, whoever stands as suretie(s) will forfeit the bail bond to the state if they fail to produce him.

On Friday, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia called on supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remain calm as efforts were being made to execute the bail conditions granted to Chairman Wontumi, who is being investigated on suspicion of money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.

That was after spending more than 30 minutes at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) headquarters, where the Ashanti Regional Chairman was being held.

Dr Bawumia described the GH¢50million bail bond set by the Economic and  Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as exorbitant and intentionally imposed to keep Chairman Wontumi in custody indefinitely.

“Remain calm and don’t take the law into your own hands. We are following due process to make sure we execute the bail,” Dr Bawumia told the supporters.

He was in the company of the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, some members of Parliament (MP) and NPP leaders.

Some supporters and members of the opposition NPP gathered at the frontage of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) .

Bawumia joins NPP supporters to gather at NIB headquarters in solidarity with Wontumi https://t.co/bU3gqH16PA pic.twitter.com/4ZT42WlV76

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) May 30, 2025

NPP supporters have moved to the headquarters of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) where the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako also known as Chairman Wontumi is being held and is expected to meet his bail conditions today pic.twitter.com/Ho1jSCxuxn

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) May 30, 2025