Member of the NDC’s Legal and Communications Team, Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of breaching an arrangement with the Economic and Organised Office (EOCO), which was intended to grant a quiet, dignified visit to detained Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Adawudu’s remarks follow a failed attempt by NPP flagbearer and former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin to meet Wontumi at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) headquarters, where he was allegedly transferred for security reasons.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, June 2, Adawudu said the unsuccessful visit by the party’s leadership was a direct result of the NPP’s violation of the agreed terms with EOCO.
“The arrangement and the conditions that they agreed to, they breached. It was agreed to give him the honour that he has served as a former Vice President, so come with your entourage, quietly, and we will allow you to see him. That was why Wontumi was moved from EOCO to NIB, a bigger space”.
“But they breached it and bussed their people to the place. So all these… Wontumi is still languishing there because they have not been strategic in their approach,” he explained.
Chairman Wontumi has been in EOCO’s custody for the past six days over allegations of financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. He was initially arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on May 27 and later picked up by EOCO.
He was granted bail on May 28, set at GHC50 million with two justified sureties, but his release was stalled due to technical and legal complications. Though his legal team insists that bail conditions were met by May 30, Wontumi remained in custody and was subsequently moved to the NIB for logistical and security reasons.
On Friday, May 30, Dr. Bawumia and Afenyo-Markin visited the NIB headquarters in a bid to see him, but were unsuccessful, prompting Bawumia’s public confirmation of the failed meeting.
However, Andy Appiah-Kubi has disclosed that all legal and administrative obstacles are expected to be cleared by Monday, June 2, to allow for Wontumi’s release.
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