The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has finally released the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after satisfying the bail conditions imposed following his recent arrest.
Wontumi was granted bail on Wednesday, May 28, in the sum of GH₵50 million with two justified sureties.
His legal team, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed that the bail requirements were fully met by Friday, May 30.
However, his release was delayed due to a motion seeking a review of the bail conditions, which had been filed at the High Court in Accra on May 30 without his direct approval.
That motion was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, June 3, but was officially withdrawn a day earlier, on Monday, June 2.
Following the withdrawal, EOCO released Chairman Wontumi later that evening.
Addressing the media, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua, confirmed the release of Wontumi while expressing gratitude to the MP for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong.
He said, “I can confirm that Chairman Wontumi has been released, he’s gone home to relax, we will inform you of any new development. Let’s thank Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi for the support,” he told supporters at EOCO Monday evening.”
Chairman Wontumi was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, as part of ongoing investigations into alleged fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai has suggested that the case may be linked to a larger international organised crime syndicate.
In addition, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) is reportedly preparing its own separate docket for the case, independent of investigations by EOCO and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
His detention drew widespread attention and political backlash, with several NPP Members of Parliament, party executives, and supporters describing the bail conditions as excessive and politically motivated.
Protests and public outcry mounted pressure for his release.
Despite the legal hurdles and political drama, Wontumi is now out on bail and expected to cooperate fully with the investigations as required by the bail conditions.
