Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been granted bail by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) following hours of interrogation in Accra.
Wontumi was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with two sureties, both to be justified, according to his lawyer, Andy Appiah Kubi.
The police enquiry bail allows his temporary release as investigations continue into allegations of causing financial loss to the state.
He was earlier invited by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over alleged involvement in illegal mining activities, including operations without a licence and damage to water bodies and forest reserves.
After responding to the CID’s invitation, he was reportedly picked up by EOCO officials for further questioning.
His lawyer confirmed that Wontumi is cooperating with officers to meet the bail conditions. He is said to have taken ill during the lengthy interrogation.
In a related development, Oheneba Antwi Boasiako, brother of Chairman Wontumi has raised concerns about what he described as an unnecessarily dramatic arrest by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
In a statement recounting the events, he revealed that the incident unfolded shortly after they had concluded a brief session with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). “We went to the CID headquarters again today at 3 pm.
In about 15 minutes, we were done with the CID. Just when we had moved from the CID office at the entrance, we were surrounded by fully armed men in about five cars. They claimed they had been told to bring Chairman Wontumi to their office,” he stated.
What shocked him more, he said, was the manner in which EOCO officers handled the situation. According to him, their approach lacked basic courtesy and ignored the rights of the individual involved.
“I wanted to go in there with my brother because I don’t know where they were taking him, but they denied me access.”
