Minority MPs Sit on Street at EOCO Headquarters to Protest Wontumi’s Detention

Members of Parliament from Minority Caucus have staged a protest outside the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra on Thursday, May 29, demanding the release of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Dressed in symbolic red and black attire, the MPs marched from Parliament to EOCO’s headquarters, where they occupied a section of the street in front of the office. Their sit-in, marked by chants and placards calling for justice, brought traffic in the area to a standstill and attracted a heavy police presence.

Chairman Wontumi, who serves as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, following a summons from the Criminal Investigations Department. He is currently under investigation over alleged financial improprieties connected to the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIMBANK).

Though EOCO granted Wontumi bail on Wednesday, May 28, set at GH₵50 million with two justified sureties, his continued detention stems from his inability to meet the stringent bail conditions.

Leading the protest, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the government of weaponising state institutions against political opponents, describing the detention as an act of political persecution.

“The selective application of justice and continued silence from EOCO raise serious questions about the independence of our institutions,” he said.

NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye also condemned the development, calling it a sign of growing politicisation within EOCO.

While EOCO has yet to issue an official statement, sources close to the investigation suggest the case may involve intricate financial transactions related to state resources and mining operations.