Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Hassan Tampuli, has criticised the Economic and Organised Office (EOCO), describing the detention of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako—popularly known as Chairman Wontumi—as an abuse of state power.
Mr. Tampuli’s remarks follow Chairman Wontumi’s release from EOCO custody on Monday, June 2, after his legal team withdrew a motion that sought to challenge the conditions of his GH¢50 million bail.
Speaking during an interview on The Point of View on Channel One TV, with Bernard Avle, Mr. Tampuli said the circumstances surrounding Wontumi’s detention suggested political targeting.
“We thought that was abuse of state power. And it sets a certain signal of some amount of political vendetta against a political party opponent. More especially, the chairman of one of the political parties, the biggest opposition party. We thought that was wrong, and we needed to send a certain statement,” he pointed out.
Chairman Wontumi was initially invited by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and was subsequently arrested by EOCO on Tuesday, May 27. He was granted bail the next day, with conditions requiring two justified sureties.
His legal team, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed that the bail requirements had been met by Friday, May 30. However, his release was delayed due to a motion filed at the High Court on the same day, seeking a review of the GH¢50 million bail on the grounds that it was excessive and hindering his freedom.
The motion was slated for hearing on Tuesday, June 3, but was formally withdrawn on Monday, June 2, paving the way for Wontumi’s release.
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