After hours of questioning in Accra, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has granted bail to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the chairman of the Ashanti Regional NPP.
According to his attorney, Andy Appiah Kubi, Wontumi was granted GH¢50 million bail with two sureties, each of which had to be justified.
As investigations into claims of causing financial loss to the state continue, the police inquiry bail permits his temporary release.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had previously invited him due to his alleged involvement in illicit mining activities, which included operations without a license and harm to forest reserves and water bodies.
According to reports, EOCO personnel pulled him up for additional interrogation after he accepted the CID’s request.
Wontumi is assisting officers in meeting the terms of his bond, according to his attorney. During the protracted interrogation, he reportedly became unwell.
Relatedly, Chairman Wontumi’s brother, Oheneba Antwi Boasiako, expressed disapproval of what he called an overly theatrical arrest by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
He said in a statement that the incident happened soon after they had wrapped off a quick meeting with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). At 3 PM today, we returned to the CID headquarters.
We finished with the CID in roughly fifteen minutes. We were encircled by heavily armed individuals in around five automobiles as soon as we left the CID office at the entrance. He said, “They said they were instructed to bring Chairman Wontumi to their office.”
He claimed that the way EOCO officers handled the matter astounded him more. He claimed that their strategy disregarded the rights of the person involved and lacked fundamental civility.
“I wanted to go in there with my brother because I don’t know where they were taking him, but they denied me access.”
