The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has accused the Economic and Organised Office (EOCO) of deliberately attempting to detain Bernard Antwi Boasiako—popularly known as Chairman Wontumi—beyond the constitutionally mandated 48-hour period.
Chairman Wontumi, who serves as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).
Although EOCO granted him bail of GHS50 million on Wednesday, May 28, the conditions—requiring two justified sureties—have yet to be met, resulting in his continued detention.
On Thursday, May 29, several Minority Members of Parliament marched from Parliament to EOCO headquarters in Accra to protest Wontumi’s prolonged detention. The demonstration temporarily blocked sections of the road, causing heavy traffic and drawing a significant police presence.
Speaking on Eyewitness News with Sammi Wiafe, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah criticised EOCO’s handling of the case, suggesting that the agency was intentionally dragging its feet to detain Wontumi longer than legally permissible.
“What is it that you cannot find about Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, for which reason we need all that drama? Now there’s an obvious attempt to keep him locked up beyond 48 hours. Because the bail conditions they have imposed on him and the processes they are using—even when someone shows up with property, the person who is supposedly going to evaluate the property is not available,” he said.
He continued, “It’s obvious they want to keep him beyond 48 hours; it’s clear, everybody understands what’s going on.”
Oppong Nkrumah further urged EOCO to release the NPP executive on police inquiry bail, insisting that Wontumi would comply with any further investigative procedures.
“We want to engage EOCO’s top officials and draw their attention that they don’t need this. Grant him police inquiry bail, and he will show up when you need him to answer questions. All this drama is just an exercise to show that we have the power, and we will show him where the power lies. That is the game,” he added.
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