Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has filed a motion at the High Court in Accra seeking a review of his GH₵50 million bail conditions imposed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The application, filed on May 30, 2025, by Marfo & Associates, challenges the GH₵50 million bail requirement—along with the condition of two justified sureties—as unfair and designed to prevent his timely release.
The motion is expected to be heard on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
A portion of the legal motion reads: “TAKE NOTICE that Counsel for and on behalf of the Applicant herein will move this Honourable Court on an application praying for an Order of Court reviewing the bail conditions imposed by the 1 Respondent on the Applicant under investigation upon the grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit and for such further Orders as this Honourable court may deem meet. COURT TO BE MOVED on the 3rd day of June 2025 at 9’0 clock in the forenoon or so soon thereafter as Counsel for and on behalf of the Applicant may be heard.”
Chairman Wontumi was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and later transferred to EOCO. Although he was granted bail on Wednesday, May 28, he remains in custody after failing to satisfy the conditions, which require two sureties with property worth GH₵50 million.
Former Vice President and NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has sharply criticised the bail terms, calling them politically motivated and deliberately obstructive.
Speaking to the press and party faithful at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) headquarters in Accra on Friday, May 30, Dr. Bawumia remarked:
“I must put on record that the bail conditions that have been set for Chairman Wontumi’s bail, 50 million Ghana cedis, is very onerous. I don’t know how many people in Ghana can have property worth 50 million Ghana cedis. I believe that this was just set to prevent his timely release,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia further accused the state of weaponizing legal procedures to silence political opponents, warning that such actions undermine democratic accountability and due process.
The arrest and continued detention of Chairman Wontumi have ignited political backlash.
On Thursday, May 29, Minority Members of Parliament, clad in red and black, staged a protest march from Parliament to EOCO headquarters, blocking the entrance and chanting solidarity songs. They pledged to remain at the premises overnight in support of their colleague.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who led the demonstration, described the bail terms as unjust and punitive. He also announced a parliamentary boycott by NPP MPs until Wontumi is released.
Adding to the efforts to secure his release, former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has offered to serve as one of the sureties.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, has confirmed that Wontumi is under investigation for multiple serious offences, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.
He also disclosed that EOCO is working closely with international law enforcement agencies, as the case has transnational dimensions involving organised crime networks.
Find below the motion
