Respect Wontumi’s Rights; Bawumia to EOCO

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has called for respect for human rights following the arrest and detention of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

The NPP Chairman was arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on May 27, 2025, and has remained in their custody since.

In a Facebook post, the 2024 presidential candidate of the NPP said EOCO was enjoined to “act strictly within the bounds of the law and to respect the rights of Mr Wontumi as guaranteed by our Constitution”.

According to him, any deviation from these principles risks undermining public trust in the justice system and weakening democratic values.

Expressing grave concern about the development, he emphasised that justice and due process are not optional.

“In a democratic environment such as ours, no individual is above the law. Equally, no Ghanaian—regardless of political affiliation or status—should ever be denied their constitutional rights. Justice and due process are not optional; they are the foundation of our democracy.”

The Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Suhuyini Sayibu Alhassan, this morning disclosed that the arrest of Wontumi relates to a private transaction with Ghana Exim Bank.

He asserted that the arrest was not unlawful, as the alleged crime involves finances, which fall within the mandate of EOCO.

He, however, noted that it is yet to be established whether Wontumi failed to honour earlier invitations from the office, which may have led to the manner of his arrest.

Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/