In an unprecedented move, Minority Members of Parliament on Thursday staged a protest march to the headquarters of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), demanding the release of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako—widely known as Chairman Wontumi.
The symbolic act of protest, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, followed days of vocal disapproval in Parliament over what the caucus views as excessive bail conditions and unfair treatment of Wontumi, who remains in EOCO custody amid an investigation into alleged financial misconduct involving EXIMBANK.
Gathering outside Parliament before their march, Afenyo-Markin described EOCO’s handling of the case as unjust and warned of broader consequences for Ghana’s democratic values.
“EOCO must do its work, but it must also respect the law,” he said. “What we are witnessing is selective application of justice. And if we don’t correct it now, it will come back to haunt us.”
Wontumi’s continued detention stems from his inability to meet EOCO’s bail requirement of GHS50 million and two sureties. The Minority maintains that such conditions are punitive and unrealistic.
“Where is he going to get GHS50 million from? These conditions are designed to keep him locked up, not to ensure compliance with the investigation,” Afenyo-Markin said.
In a bold show of unity, he declared that some Minority MPs are prepared to remain outside Parliament and even spend the night at EOCO in solidarity with Wontumi.
“This isn’t just about one man,” Afenyo-Markin asserted. “This is about ensuring every Ghanaian is treated fairly, no matter their political alignment.”
The Minority Leader called for bipartisan action to hold EOCO accountable, urging Parliament to speak with one voice against what he termed “legal overreach.”
As the protest unfolded, political observers noted the march as one of the most visible and confrontational responses by a parliamentary minority to a state investigative process in recent years—signaling a tense standoff between the legislative and law enforcement arms of government.
