Parliament descended into heated scenes on Wednesday as members of the Minority staged a dramatic walkout in protest of what they describe as the unfair and excessive bail conditions imposed on New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The protest, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, was in response to the continued detention of Wontumi by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), despite being granted bail. EOCO had set the bail at GHS50 million with two sureties—a condition his legal team has so far been unable to fulfill.
Waving off what they see as “selective justice,” Minority MPs exited the chamber in a coordinated move, accusing EOCO of using the law as a political tool.
“This is not justice—it is punishment disguised as procedure,” Afenyo-Markin declared before the walkout. “We know investigations must proceed, but the law must be applied fairly and with dignity. GHS50 million is not just unreasonable; it is an indictment of our system.”
Wontumi has been in custody since May 27 over allegations of financial misconduct involving state-run EXIMBANK. The Minority, however, maintains that the bail amount is designed to keep him behind bars, not to ensure cooperation with the investigation.
“If this is how we’re going to treat our own, we should be worried,” Afenyo-Markin warned. “Today it’s Wontumi; tomorrow, it could be anyone sitting here. We will not be part of a process that violates fairness and due process.”
In a symbolic act of solidarity, the Minority Leader hinted at joining Wontumi in detention if the conditions are not reviewed. “We are going to stand with him—not just in words, but in presence. If it means sleeping there with him, so be it.”
The walkout marks a deepening divide between Parliament and law enforcement agencies over the treatment of political figures under investigation. It also raises questions about the balance between accountability and the protection of individual rights within Ghana’s justice system.
As EOCO continues its probe, the Minority says it will not return to the chamber until steps are taken to revise what they call “punitive and politically motivated” bail terms.
