The Minority in Parliament staged a dramatic walkout on Thursday to protest what they described as the unjust treatment and ‘punitive bail conditions’ imposed on the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The Caucus abandoned the sitting of the House midway and marchd to the office of EOCO to continue the protest vowing until Chairman Wontumi is granted bail, members of the side would not come to Parliament or participate in the business of the House.
Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, on the floor of the House launched a scathing criticism of EOCO and questioned the legality and fairness of its handling of the high-profile case, warning that such treatment could set a dangerous precedent that would one day affect members of both sides of the political divide.
The Minority Leader declared, “What is happening is not right. Chairman Wontumi was accosted and physically pulled out of his car by EOCO operatives despite cooperating with police earlier. Now he is unwell and being held at the NIB clinic. This is not how justice should be done.”
According to Afenyo-Markin, Chairman Wontumi voluntarily reported himself to the police on Tuesday May 27 but was later forcibly taken by EOCO officials to their offices.
He also criticized EOCO for demanding a GH¢50 million property-based bail condition, describing it as excessive and punitive.
“Mr. Speaker, our courts have ruled time and again that bail must not be used as punishment. This man has a fixed place of abode, and he voluntarily drove from Kumasi to Accra. So why the harassment?” he asked.
Referring to Article 296 of the 1992 Constitution, the Minority Leader argued that EOCO’s exercise of discretion had been ‘arbitrary, capricious, and biased,’ and urged the agency to reverse the bail conditions immediately.
He said, “Do your work, but respect the law. We are not against accountability, but justice must not be selective or weaponized. Today it is Chairman Wontumi. Tomorrow, it could be you.”
Afenyo-Markin warned that the Minority caucus of the NPP would continue to boycott proceedings in Parliament in solidarity with Wontumi until the bail conditions were reviewed.
He said, “Until EOCO is able to do the right thing, we the NPP side, however small our numbers, will protest by absenting ourselves from proceedings. We are going to sleep there with him there. We are not going to ask for any property to present to them. We don’t have GH¢50 million worth of property.”
Chairman Wontumi, as of Thursday, remains in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau’s clinic under EOCO authority. His legal team is reportedly preparing to challenge the bail conditions in court.