Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was rushed to a hospital on Tuesday, May 27, after reportedly falling ill while being interrogated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra.
The development was confirmed by his lawyer and former Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, Andy Appiah Kubi, who disclosed the information to journalists late Tuesday evening.
He, however, declined to provide the name or location of the medical facility where his client was receiving treatment.
“I know where he is but I am not going to disclose the hospital. But all that I can say is that my client has been taken to the hospital for medical treatment.”
Regarding the ongoing legal proceedings, Appiah-Kubi mentioned that the interrogation of Chairman Wontumi has not been completed. “We have given our statements. They made some allegations against him, he responded to them.
“We haven’t finished with the interrogation, so we will come back to continue hopefully [Wednesday] if his condition improves. Otherwise, he will stay there until the doctors discharge him, then we come back to continue the interrogation,” he explained.
Additionally, Appiah-Kubi addressed a recent writ of summons filed by Exim Bank against Chairman Wontumi. “Nevertheless, we have also received a writ of summons from Exim Bank and we are going to respond to the pleadings tomorrow. I am very hopeful that we will be able to mount a defence of the writ,” he said.
Background of Arrest and Interrogation
Chairman Wontumi was invited earlier in the day by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to assist with ongoing investigations linked to alleged illegal mining activities. He had previously been cautioned over accusations of mining without a license, polluting water bodies, and encroaching on forest reserves.
However, after honouring the CID’s invitation, he was subsequently picked up by EOCO officials and transported to their offices for further questioning, reportedly on related issues.
The arrest triggered immediate tension, with scores of NPP supporters and party executives storming the EOCO premises in protest, demanding his release. The chaotic scenes prompted the deployment of military personnel to reinforce security at the facility.
Several NPP figures, including party National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye and former Greater Accra Regional Minister Titus Glover, accused the government and EOCO of engaging in politically motivated actions aimed at intimidating opposition figures.
Earlier on Tuesday, Nana Boakye told journalists that the NPP would not tolerate what he described as “political harassment” disguised as legal investigations. He warned that the party would resist any effort to weaponize state institutions against its members.
“We are a law-abiding political party, and we’ve urged our members to cooperate with investigative bodies. But we will not sit back while our people are subjected to unfair treatment,” Boakye said.
Titus Glover went further, accusing the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of orchestrating a “violent political witch-hunt” against Wontumi.
Speaking at the EOCO premises, Glover condemned what he called a “Rambo-style” arrest and challenged EOCO to publicly disclose any charges if they existed.
