The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is organizing a high-level delegation to meet President John Dramani Mahama to advocate on behalf of the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi.
Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, made this disclosure during an interview on Channel One TV on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. He stated that the party believes President Mahama is exerting influence over the legal challenges currently facing Wontumi.
“For Chairman Wontumi’s case, we are prepared to make our case directly. The forces at play are far more significant than those within EOCO and the intelligence agencies. We hold President Mahama responsible,” Dr. Afriyie asserted.
He also disclosed that on June 9, he showed Wontumi a series of videos that gained significant attention before the 2024 elections, in which Wontumi made inflammatory and personal remarks. Wontumi recognized that he overstepped and is ready to issue an apology.
“If it comes to kneeling in front of President Mahama, we will do it. Wontumi crossed a line with those videos. Political competition is fair game, but personal attacks based on falsehoods are unacceptable,” Dr. Afriyie emphasized.
Chairman Wontumi is currently under investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for alleged financial crimes, including money laundering and fraud. His legal team believes the bail terms—set at GH¢50 million—are excessive. On Monday, June 2, 2025, they withdrew a motion filed at the High Court to review the bail conditions, after securing a second surety to support his release.
Andy Appiah-Kubi, MP for Asante-Akim North and a member of Wontumi’s defence team, said all legal options are being pursued. He also criticized EOCO’s procedure, claiming that the agency arrested Wontumi without issuing a formal invitation.
Appiah-Kubi pointed out that Wontumi had already honoured an earlier invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. That investigation concerns alleged illegal mining activities. Meanwhile, EOCO is conducting a separate probe related to a financial transaction said to have caused losses to the state—details of which remain undisclosed.
