The Member of Parliament for Effia, Lawyer Isaac Boamah Nyarko, has raised concerns over what he calls a growing trend of unprofessional and politically motivated arrests by state agencies, following the continued detention of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi.
Wontumi has been in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) since May 27, despite being granted bail by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). His release is pending the fulfillment of a GH¢50 million bail condition with two justifiable sureties — a requirement critics argue is excessive.
Speaking on Starr FM’s Morning Starr, Mr. Nyarko questioned the necessity of Wontumi’s forceful transfer from CID to EOCO, especially when he had voluntarily presented himself for interrogation. The MP, who is also a lawyer, emphasized that standard legal procedures for investigations had been ignored, stating that bail should never be used as a tool of punishment.
“What we are witnessing is not just legally questionable but politically charged,” Mr. Nyarko said. “Why was he not invited in a formal way like the police did earlier? The ambush tactics used in his re-arrest raise serious red flags.”
The MP also compared Wontumi’s treatment to that of other public figures who had been summoned for questioning without such forceful interventions, suggesting selective enforcement of justice.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, has defended EOCO’s actions, confirming that Wontumi is being investigated for grave offences, including fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
The case has sparked political uproar, with Minority MPs staging a protest at EOCO’s headquarters and influential figures like former MP Kennedy Agyapong offering to act as surety.
As the political temperature rises, calls for transparent legal proceedings and adherence to due process are growing louder.
