GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has revealed that nearly GH¢50 million belonging to Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been frozen as part of ongoing investigations into suspected financial crimes.
Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews, the Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese disclosed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) had secured large sums of money believed to be linked to various investigations.
“For instance, in Chairman Wontumi’s case alone, close to GH¢50 million of money in his account has been frozen,” he said.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu added that similar financial figures have also been identified in other high-profile investigations.
He cited cases involving Kwabena Adu Boahene, a former Signals Bureau boss, as well as investigations linked to the National Service Authority.
According to him, the asset freeze forms part of a broader effort by the state to trace and secure assets suspected to be linked to corruption and financial misconduct.
“But for now, what they can do is to freeze it, and they have done it, GH¢1.5 billion,” he stated.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that the freezing of assets is only a temporary measure while investigations and legal proceedings continue.
He explained that the state cannot recover such assets outright until a court determines that they were obtained illegally.
“They are not going to be able to recover until the persons involved have been convicted by a court that will then allow the state to retrieve whatever has been proven to have been stolen,” he said.
He also addressed earlier public debate over comments made by John Dramani Mahama regarding funds recovered by EOCO.
According to him, the GH¢600 million figure cited by the President referred to funds recovered through routine investigations conducted by EOCO.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu noted that the agency regularly handles cases involving money laundering, cybercrime, cross-border crime, and carjacking.
He added that investigations into suspected corruption and financial crimes currently attracting public attention are still ongoing, with authorities continuing efforts to trace additional assets linked to the cases.
