Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako—widely known as Chairman Wontumi—has quietly pulled back his legal challenge over the stringent bail conditions set against him.
The motion, which sought to review what his lawyers described as an “excessive” GH¢50 million bail, was filed at the Accra High Court on May 30, 2025. It was slated for hearing on Tuesday, June 3. But just a day before that, on Monday, June 2, his legal team formally withdrew the application.
Wontumi’s legal representatives had argued that the bail sum imposed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) was not only disproportionate but could also delay his release, effectively keeping him in prolonged custody without conviction.
The NPP firebrand has been in EOCO custody since May 28, following his arrest over serious allegations of fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. Sources familiar with the case indicate that his arrest came after weeks of surveillance and forensic financial investigations.
But that’s not all. The scandal surrounding Chairman Wontumi seems to be growing in complexity.
Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, disclosed that investigators are now digging into a second phase of the case—one that reportedly links the NPP chairman to a wider international organised crime syndicate. If these leads hold, the legal implications could be far-reaching.
While the withdrawal of the bail challenge may appear to signal a change in legal strategy, it also raises new questions about what lies ahead for Wontumi. Is it a tactical retreat—or a sign that bigger revelations are yet to come?
For now, Chairman Wontumi remains in EOCO custody, and the political stakes surrounding his case continue to rise.
