The lead counsel for embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has disclosed that they have been able to secure surety for his bail.
According to Mr Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi Constituency, Bryan Acheampong, stood surety for him.
However, he is still in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
“So, he’s receiving attention he is wholly good. He’s wholly healthy and there’s nothing to worry about in respect of his health. We have secured the bail. Now we have been able to provide the surety, and I’m very grateful to honorable Bryan Acheampong who has supported me to file the documents. He has brought his documents, which goes over and above the value of money that is required,” he told journalists on the premises of EOCO in the evening of May 30.
Asked whether Chairman wontumi will be released, he said, “well, obviously no.”
Earlier, the former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia described the GHC50 million bail condition placed on Chairman Wontumi as unrealistic.
According to him, the amount demanded by the Economic and Organised Crime office (EOCO) for the release of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was aimed at preventing his release.
Speaking to journalists after a failed attempt to see Chairman Wontumi at the Headquarters of the National Investigation Bureau (NIB), Dr Bawumia said, “The bail condition for Chairman Wontumi is onerous. I don’t know how many people in Ghana have properties worth GHC50 million. I want to believe they imposed that amount to prevent his timely release.”
“We are going to follow the legal process to make sure he is released,” he said.
Dr Bawumia, the 2024 flagbearer of the NPP told party supporters who had massed up at the NIB office that they could not see Chairman Wontumi because the NIB authorities said, “We can only see him if EOCO officials authorise them.”
“We are very disappointed in our inability to see him, because we had made arrangements,” he lamented.
Chairman Wontumi was transferred from the headquarters of the Economic and Organised Crime (EOCO) to the NIB office on Friday, May 30.
EOCO has granted Chairman Wontumi bail to the tune of GHC50 million with two sureties, but he has not been released from custody due to his failure to meet the bail conditions.
The Minority in Parliament, agitated over the bail conditions, staged a walkout of Parliament on Thursday, May 29 and stormed the office of EOCO, organised a sit-down protest at EOCO’s office, demanding that EOCO vary the bail conditions.
Speaking on TV3’s NewsCentral, Friday, May 30, 2025, Dr. Norman criticised the Minority MPs for their actions in demanding a review of the bail conditions.
He maintained that EOCO is on the right path and is implementing the laws of the country.
“You cannot fault EOCO for following its mandate, making sure that whoever has gone against the mandate of EOCO and the laws of this country is punished.
“So, for me, from the public policy point of view, EOCO is on the right path, and what the Minority is doing is not the right way. We haven’t seen his lawyer, Mr. Appiah Kubi sit there with them because he knows that the best way to play this is to go to court. What EOCO is doing is not illegal,” he explained.
Dr. Norman wondered why the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not been able to find a way out to meet the 50 million Cedis bail condition for Chairman Wontumi with all its collective assets.
“I empathise with the micro Minority because one of their kind is under stress and is perceived to be intimidated by the state security.
“Unfortunately for them, since Kpebu’s suit at the Supreme Court and with the ruling, all offences are bailable, but it doesn’t mean that when you are given bail conditions, then you can basically pooh-pooh it.
“You have to find a way to meet the bail condition, after all, they are not asking you to come and pay down 50 million cedis, it is the surety. With all the collective assets of wealth of the NPP party, they can’t put together two sureties of 50 million? Even Chairman Wontumi’s own assets are cashable, he boasts about it in Kumasi.”
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, Chairman Wontumi has been arrested on allegations of fraud, money laundering, and involvement in organised crime.
The Minority leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, has asked the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to immediately revoke the 50 million Cedis bail imposed on Chairman Wontumi.
“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.
