WATCH: Minority MPs sit on street to protest Wontumi’s detention by EOCO
In dramatic display of political protest, members of Parliament from the Minority Caucus staged a sit-in outside the headquarters of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra on Thursday, May 29, to demand the release of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Clad in black and red, the MPs marched from Parliament and took over portions of the street directly in front of EOCO’s office in Accra Central, drawing significant public attention.
The protest, marked by chants, and calls for justice, brought traffic to a standstill and drew a heavy police presence as security personnel attempted to maintain order.
The Minority MPs, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin decried what they described as political persecution and the weaponisation of state institutions against political opponents.
The sit-in comes in response to Wontumi’s continued detention by EOCO after failing to meet the conditions of a GH₵50 million bail granted on Wednesday, May 28.
Wontumi was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, following a summons by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service. He is being investigated over alleged financial irregularities involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIMBANK).
While EOCO has granted him bail, the conditions—requiring two sureties to be justified—have yet to be fully satisfied.
NPP National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye condemned what he called the “increasing politicisation of EOCO.”
The protest has added fuel to an already tense political atmosphere, with many observers interpreting the Minority’s actions as an unusual show of solidarity.
Meanwhile, EOCO has maintained its silence on the matter, refusing to comment on the details of the ongoing investigation.
Sources close to the case have hinted that the probe may involve complex financial transactions linked to state funds and mining interests.
As Wontumi’s legal team races to meet bail conditions, political tempers continue to flare, with the case now becoming a symbol of broader concerns about justice, due process, and the independence of Ghana’s investigative institutions.
