–By Issah Olegor
A cloud of confusion has descended on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following delays in the release of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) cells, despite meeting a staggering GH¢50 million bail condition.
At the heart of the drama is a legal tussle between senior party lawyers, accusations of poor coordination, and rising political tensions within the NPP hierarchy.
Background
Wontumi’s legal troubles began on Tuesday, May 27, when he was initially invited by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. Later that day, he was handed over to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which is investigating him for alleged involvement in money laundering, fraud, and causing financial loss to the state.
The reasons for his arrest were not immediately disclosed, a decision that drew widespread criticism.
Notably, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu chastised EOCO’s silence, stating that the lack of transparency had fueled speculation and politicization.
“By now, EOCO should have told us why Wontumi is being charged. Their silence has made the process appear unfair,” he said on TV3 The KeyPoints program on May 31.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem Sai later confirmed the charges in a Facebook post, disclosing that Wontumi is under investigation for multiple offenses, including involvement in an international organized crime scheme.
Asset recovery measures, according to Dr. Sai, are already underway to prevent dissipation of suspected proceeds of crime.
Bail Secured
On Wednesday, May 28, EOCO granted bail to Chairman Wontumi, setting the amount at GH¢50 million with two justified sureties.
By Friday, May 30, lead counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi announced to journalists that the bail conditions had been fully met.
He credited the successful effort to Dr. Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi and a rising political force within the NPP, who personally mobilized high-value documents to meet the terms.
“I’m very grateful to Honourable Bryan Acheampong, who supported me in providing the documents,” Appiah-Kubi told reporters, praising Acheampong’s decisive intervention.
However, the celebration was short-lived.
Just as supporters and legal counsel prepared for Wontumi’s release, a surprise twist emerged.
A court motion had been filed by NPP Director of Legal Affairs, Gary Nimako Marfo, seeking a variation of the bail conditions.
The motion, submitted late Friday, reportedly stalled Wontumi’s release.
In an interview with Movement TV on May 31, Nimako defended his decision.
“I was approached by Wontumi’s aide and later his wife, who indicated that they wanted a variation. Based on that, I filed the application,” he explained.
Nimako insisted that the variation request had no bearing on Wontumi’s detention.
“It is legally untenable to say a bail variation delays execution. Once the bail conditions are met, the individual should be released,” he stressed, expressing disappointment at being blamed for the delays.
But Appiah-Kubi, who had been leading the legal charge, expressed surprise at the filing, stating that he had no knowledge of the motion and that it created an unnecessary legal bottleneck.
The lack of internal coordination has exposed simmering tensions within the party’s legal machinery.
Political Fallout
The legal confusion has spilled into political unrest within the NPP. Former Vice President and 2024 flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, along with Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, visited the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in Accra on May 30 to check on Wontumi’s condition.
However, they were unable to see him, prompting public expressions of disappointment.
“We had made prior arrangements. Unfortunately, we could not see him. We’re disappointed,” Dr. Bawumia said outside the NIB premises.
Unconfirmed reports however indicated that Dr Bawumia and some party leaders finally met Wontumi yesterday.
Meanwhile, a sit-down protest by Minority MPs in front of EOCO headquarters, in solidarity with Wontumi, disrupted traffic and drew national attention.
The party’s grassroots erupted with support for Wontumi and Bryan Acheampong, praising the latter’s decisive leadership.
Acheampong’s Rising Star
Dr. Bryan Acheampong’s role in posting Wontumi’s bail has sparked waves of admiration among party supporters.
Social media platforms and internal party groups flooded with praise, with some describing him as the future of the NPP.
His latest intervention, many say, adds to his growing portfolio of grassroots engagement and strategic leadership.
As of Sunday, June 1, Chairman Wontumi remains in custody, pending the outcome of the bail variation motion.
His continued detention, despite meeting the original bail conditions, has sparked questions not only about legal due process but also about the internal cohesion of the NPP’s leadership.
With EOCO intensifying investigations and internal party cracks becoming more visible, the Wontumi saga has evolved from a legal case into a political crisis for the opposition party.
For now, party unity appears to hang in the balance as supporters await the next legal move and the eventual release of one of the NPP’s most prominent—and now most embattled—figures.
