Bernard Antwi Boasiako is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party
The 3rd National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Osman Masawudu, has clarified why several top executives of the party were not present during the second arrest of Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Speaking in an interview shared on social media on October 13, 2025, Alhaji Masawudu explained that the absence of senior party officials during Wontumi’s arrest was not deliberate but rather due to unavoidable circumstances, including travel and health reasons.
According to him, virtually all top officers, including the General Secretary, National Organiser, and several others, were unavailable at the time of Wontumi’s arrest.
He emphasised that the party remains united and supportive of its embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman, stressing that when the issue first arose, national officers and Members of Parliament rallied behind Wontumi in full force.
“NPP, for now, we are so united, and you know, for now our slogan is touch one touch all. The moment you touch one, you touch all, but sometimes there comes a circumstance where all of us may have a mission. We were out of the country.
“As I’m talking to you myself, I was out of the country and I just came yesterday. So, most of us, especially the national officers, were not around.
“It can’t happen that the Ashanti regional chairman will be arrested and the national officers will not appear there… I was not around, the national chairman is not well, and he was not around. Nana B was not around, and the General Secretary (too). So almost all of us were not around,” he said.
Chairman Wontumi was released from police custody on October 10, 2025, after meeting his GH¢10 million bail condition with two sureties, one of which had to be justified with landed property.
Chairman Wontumi released after meeting bail conditions
His counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed his release in an interview with the media.
Wontumi’s release followed his rearrest on October 7, 2025, over fresh allegations linked to illegal mining activities.
The charges against Chairman Wontumi emerged after his appearance at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in Accra on October 6, 2025, in line with a directive from the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.
Dr Ayine had earlier instructed Wontumi to report to the CID for questioning, warning that failure to comply would result in his arrest and prosecution.
Following his compliance, Wontumi was initially granted bail but was rearrested a day later after being officially charged by the state in a second case involving allegations of illegal mining (galamsey).
Reports suggest that the new charges also involve four other individuals: Edward Akuoko, Owusu Bempah, and Kwame Antwi, the Director of Akonta Mining Limited, who is currently at large.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Criminal Court at the Accra High Court, where further criminal proceedings are expected to continue.
“The moment you touch one, you touch all. The NPP executives were out of the country on a mission. It can’t happen that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP would be arrested and we will not be around.”
– NPP 3rd National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Osman Masawudu, explains why… pic.twitter.com/HBbVhkb5Ue
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) October 13, 2025
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