Members of the Minority in Parliament staged a dramatic walkout on Thursday, May 29, in protest of the continued detention of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The protest followed delays in meeting the bail conditions set by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which had granted Chairman Wontumi a GH¢50 million bail with two sureties — both required to justify their means.
Wontumi was initially invited by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to assist with investigations into alleged illegal mining activities, also known as galamsey.
He was cautioned over accusations including mining without a license, pollution of water bodies, and encroachment on forest reserves.
After honoring the CID’s invitation, he was subsequently taken into custody by EOCO officials and transferred to their headquarters in Accra for further interrogation on related matters.
News of his detention sparked a swift response from party supporters and executives, with hundreds gathering at EOCO’s premises to demand his release.
Former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, also volunteered as one of the sureties to secure Wontumi’s bail.
Leading the protest in Parliament, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin condemned the treatment of Wontumi, describing it as excessive and unjust.
Afenyo-Markin added that unless EOCO takes appropriate steps, members of the NPP caucus would continue their protest by absenting themselves from parliamentary proceedings and joining Chairman Wontumi in solidarity.
“Do your work but respect the law. There are many people who have appeared before investigative agencies and they are treated with dignity,” Afenyo-Markin stated. “But the way we are treating ourselves, it will come back and haunt us in 2029. Let’s be careful.”
“We don’t have GHS50 million worth of properties. Where is he going to get it from?” he asked. “Until EOCO does the right thing, we on the NPP side will protest by absenting ourselves from Parliament and joining him. We are all going to sleep there with him.”
“I pray that my colleagues will support this so that with one voice, EOCO will know that when it got to this matter of Chairman Wontumi, Parliament was united,” he added.
