Watch: First Video of Chairman Wontumi After His Release from EOCO Custody
Ashanti NPP Chairman regains freedom after days in EOCO custody; bail backed by Bryan Acheampong as investigations into alleged financial crimes continue.
- Chairman Wontumi released after meeting GH₵50M EOCO bail
- Bryan Acheampong backed bail as a key surety.
- Investigations ongoing into fraud, money laundering, and syndicate links.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after satisfying his bail conditions.
Wontumi’s release comes days after his arrest on May 27, in connection with a high-profile investigation into alleged fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. Authorities have also hinted at possible links to an international organised crime syndicate, as disclosed by Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai.
He was granted bail to the tune of GH₵50 million, with two sureties required to be justified. However, his legal team initially faced challenges meeting these strict requirements, which led to several days of detention.
On Friday, May 30, lead counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi confirmed that the necessary documentation had finally been completed. This was largely made possible by the intervention of NPP’s Dr. Bryan Acheampong, who served as one of the sureties. According to sources, Acheampong’s assets “exceeded the value of the bail amount.”
Despite meeting the bail conditions, Wontumi’s release was delayed due to a legal application filed to review the bail terms, which further extended his time in custody. That application was later withdrawn, allowing EOCO to process his release on Monday, June 2.
His arrest and detention triggered a wave of political reactions. Several NPP Members of Parliament, party executives, and supporters described the bail conditions as politically motivated and staged protests demanding his release.
As part of the conditions of his release, Wontumi is expected to fully cooperate with all ongoing investigations, including a separate probe being conducted by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), in addition to those by EOCO and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Now released, Chairman Wontumi has been seen for the first time in public—and the video has sparked widespread reactions on social media, as supporters rally behind him while investigations continue.
