A large crowd of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters gathered at the residence of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in protest of an attempted arrest by officers from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and the Ghana Police Service.
The incident, which unfolded early Friday morning, saw heavily armed personnel surround the property, reportedly intending to arrest the regional chairman. Tensions quickly escalated as word spread, drawing an increasing number of party loyalists to the scene.
While the motive behind the operation remains unclear, sources indicate that Chairman Wontumi, who was inside the house at the time, assured security operatives that he would respond to their summons on Monday, May 26, 2025.
As chanting supporters condemned the presence of security forces, the NIB ordered the immediate withdrawal of all personnel from the area, easing the situation but not entirely dispersing the crowd.
Speaking to journalists, Kwame Adom-Appiah, the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Secretary and a member of Wontumi’s legal team, criticized the conduct of the security agencies. “Arriving with nearly 20 vehicles for a peaceful party chairman is excessive. He is not a criminal or coup plotter,” he said. “A formal invitation would have been enough.”
Despite the withdrawal of officers, NPP supporters have maintained a significant presence at the residence, signalling their readiness to protect their leader.