First Deputy Speaker Urges Minority to Challenge Chairman Wontumi's Bail Conditions in Court

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has urged the Minority in Parliament to seek legal redress over what they describe as unjust bail conditions imposed on Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) remains in custody under the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) despite being granted bail.

Chairman Wontumi was granted bail set at GHC50 million with two sureties, which he has yet to fulfill. The Minority has expressed strong disapproval of what they see as an excessive bail demand, accusing EOCO of political bias and targeting. In response, the Minority staged a dramatic walkout in Parliament and later held a sit-down protest outside EOCO’s headquarters on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai confirmed that Chairman Wontumi is facing charges related to fraud, money laundering, and organised crime.

Addressing the matter in Parliament, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticized the bail conditions, describing them as punitive rather than procedural. He called on EOCO to revoke the bail terms and appealed to the Majority for cross-party support.

“I pray that my colleagues on the opposite side will support this, so that with one voice, EOCO will know that when it came to this matter — Chairman Wontumi — Parliament stood united in demanding fairness,” Afenyo-Markin said.

However, First Deputy Speaker Ahiafor rejected the Minority's calls, asserting that Parliament lacks the legal authority to dictate or alter bail conditions set by an investigative body. He emphasized the importance of institutional separation and encouraged the aggrieved parties to challenge the matter in court.

“If a security agency imposes a bail condition you believe is excessive, Parliament is not the right place to demand a review,” Ahiafor said. “This is an issue that rightly belongs in the hands of the judiciary.”

He stressed that the rule of law and due process must be respected and urged all parties to follow the proper legal channels to resolve the dispute.