Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the legal representative for the beleaguered Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has verified that his client has been admitted to the hospital.
This followed his apprehension and questioning by state security personnel.
Andy Appiah-Kubi, a lawyer and NPP Member of Parliament, told reporters following hours of police and court hearings that Wontumi became ill during the interview process and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
“My client has been taken to the hospital for medical treatment,” he disclosed.
“We haven’t finished with the interrogation, so we will come back to continue — hopefully tomorrow, if his condition improves. Otherwise, he will remain there until doctors discharge him.”
The abrupt change in circumstances comes after Chairman Wontumi was arrested under what NPP leaders have called “intimidating” conditions.
Party officials claim that Wontumi had first accepted a police invitation and was answering questions at the CID headquarters when he was abruptly taken away by heavily armed, masked officers and taken into custody pending additional investigation.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi stated that the police had “preferred some allegations” against his client, to which he had already replied, even if the specifics of the accusations against him are still unknown.
The interrogation was, however, interrupted due to his deteriorating health.
In a parallel development, Mr Appiah-Kubi also revealed that a writ of summons from Exim Bank was served on Wontumi earlier in the day, adding a civil legal dimension to the unfolding drama.
“We have also received this afternoon a writ of summons from Exim Bank, and we are going to respond to the pleadings tomorrow,” he confirmed.
“We are very hopeful that we’ll be able to mount a defence.”
He was keen to distinguish between the civil and criminal elements of the ongoing case.
“This is one of a supposed criminal investigation, but I am confident that we will be able to put up a defence,” he said.
“We consider the Exim Bank issue a civil matter, and that’s how we will respond to it in court.”
The hospitalisation of Chairman Wontumi adds a new layer of tension to a politically charged situation that has already sparked strong reactions from within the NPP.
