NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi
Private legal practitioner Kwame Adofo has sharply criticised the handling of bail in the ongoing legal case involving the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako—popularly known as Chairman Wontumi—describing the process as punitive and contrary to the principles of justice.
Speaking on The Forum on Asaase Radio on Saturday, May 31, Adofo argued that bail should never serve as a form of punishment, particularly when the accused has not been found guilty.
“Bail is never intended to be used as punishment, because the person arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he explained. “So, if you start punishing the person before he has been found guilty, that is unlawful.”
The lawyer expressed concern over the imposition of what he called “ridiculously high” bail terms, suggesting that such measures amount to an outright denial of bail under the guise of due process.
“When you set bail ridiculously high, it means you have effectively refused the person bail,” he noted. “Look at someone like Chairman Wontumi—with all his businesses, with all his radio stations—what is the likelihood that this man would run away and not return to defend himself?”
Adofo proposed a more reasonable and lawful alternative: the surrender of passports to ensure an accused person remains within the jurisdiction.
“What they can do is ask him to submit his passport, so they can be sure he cannot flee the country. That’s enough,” he advised. “But the moment you set the bail so high, you are presuming that the person is guilty—and that he will run away. That’s where most law enforcement agencies get it wrong.”