Andy Appiah-Kubi, lawyer for Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman has said officials of EOCO have denied Wontumi’s family access to him while in detention.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews, Friday, May 30, 2025, Appiah-Kubi stated that Wontumi’s right has been violated by EOCO officials.
He said even as a lawyer for Chairman Wontumi, he must make an application which needed to be approved by EOCO officials before he could gain access to his client.
“That is true because for me as a lawyer, I need to apply for the application to be approved before I can see him and even, I have to be led by an official from EOCO so I don’t think the family of my client is even given such an application.
“His phones have been taken away from him and he can’t be reached and also he can’t reach out to anybody. Yes, I think this is a violation because I would have thought that he would have been given access to his family,” he said.
Chairman Wontumi has been granted bail to the tune of GHC50 million and two sureties both to be justified. His lawyer and the members of the Minority Caucus have argued against the bail conditions, describing it as “unfair” and demanding a variation of the bail condition.
The former Asante Akyim MP noted that processes for the variation of the bail condition have been filed in court.
He disclosed that the legal team is working to secure the second surety to be justified in order for Chairman Wontumi to be released from EOCO’s custody.
“I know for a fact that I have the first surety and the second surety is also preparing and we are hoping to file both before the close of the day.
“All of us believe that the GHC50 million and the sureties and justification was most difficult and unfair and we have also thought of the possibility of going to court for the variation of the condition of bail.
“As we speak now, we have filed this application in the court. Nevertheless, we are hoping to receive the second person to stand for surety and his documentation to be verified and we will be ready for the release of Chairman Wontumi,” he stated.
Chairman Wontumi has now been moved from EOCO’s custody and kept at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
