We’re still waiting for sureties — Chairman Wontumi’s lawyer

The Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has said that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka ‘Chairman Wontumi’, is on a hunger strike.

He said Chairman Wontumi decided not to eat from last Thursday to protest his continued detention.

He has remained in police custody since last  Wednesday evening following his inability to meet the GH¢50 million bail bond set by the investigative body, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).  

He is being investigated on suspicion of money laundering and causing financial loss to the state, among others.

Counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah-Kubi, said  individuals who had stepped forward to stand as sureties for his client withdrew the offer after their names were made public.

As a result, the lawyer said they were still struggling to get sureties to justify the GH¢50 million bail bond.  

On whether the former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, had presented persons to assist as sureties, counsel simply said, “I haven't had any information regarding Dr Bawumia's sureties, but I know someone is coming”.

“We are still here waiting, and I am praying that the person bringing the sureties comes,” he said, adding that he could not confirm whether the people coming were sent by Bawumia. 

Allegations  

Chairman Wontumi is under investigation for multiple criminal offences, including fraud, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state, the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, said in a post last Thursday.

The Deputy A-G said the ongoing criminal investigation was running concurrently with asset recovery efforts to prevent the suspected proceeds of crime from being dissipated.

He also gave a hint of a second strand of investigations involving Chairman Wontumi’s alleged role in a larger international organised crime scheme.

‘EOCO is said to be working closely with international law enforcement partners in this regard, ’ he indicated.

Detention

Chairman Wontumi has already spent two nights in custody for failing to meet the bail conditions 48 hours after securing the bail.

He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with two sureties to be justified.

The NPP Regional Chairman is to get at most two people to present documents, either bank statements or proof of title of landed properties worth the bail bond. 

This is to assure EOCO that he will avail himself of investigations.

In the event that he jumps bail, the sureties will forfeit the bail bond to the state.

Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus in Parliament led by its leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who blocked the main road at the EOCO office calling for the release of Chairman Wontumi, dispersed after almost three hours of protest.

Their action led to a heavy gridlock on Independence Link.

As of the time of going to press, the whereabouts of Chairman Wontumi was not known.

NPP bigwigs started gathering in the morning at the EOCO head office, with his counsel and other party leaders trying to get access to him but to no avail.

The leaders were told he had been moved to the head office of the NIB at Ridge.

The party leaders and some supporters mased up at the place, with the former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also visiting the office.

Though he was allowed access to the NIB headquarters together with some leading members of the party and NPP MPs, they could not see Chairman Wontumi.

The party said they would continue to lurk around until he was released from detention.

It is now clear, however, whether the bail bond has been met.