A senior lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Richard Baah Amoako, has described the arrest and detention of NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, as “government at work.”
Dr. Baah Amoako believes the security apparatus is functioning as intended and that NPP members fail to appreciate true democracy, citing their reaction to Wontumi’s detention by EOCO.
Speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight on Thursday, May 29, 2025, the lecturer and former NPP National Chairman aspirant noted that democracy doesn’t mean party members should mob security agency offices when a member faces the law.
“This is government at work and that’s how it is supposed to be. But we don’t understand democracy,” he stated.
He says, “when a member of your party does something wrong and charged with the government, it doesn’t mean that everybody in the party should come with him to the police station and make noise so that he can be freed.”
According to him, the NPP leadership and Minority caucus’ initial protest fell flat, prompting them to stage a parliamentary walkout the following day in solidarity with Wontumi over his bail conditions.
Dr. Baah Amoako also alleged that Wontumi had previously engaged in various illicit activities without facing consequences due to his party’s political influence.
He suggested that Wontumi’s display of gold bars on live TV was out of place, unaware that his actions would eventually catch up with him.
“It’s government at work. It’s long overdue. Wontumi has said and done a lot of unlawful things, as if nobody can do anything against him. Maybe he didn’t know the chicken would come home to roost this way” he stated.
His comments come on the back of the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s claim, that the bail bond is too much, asking the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to immediately revoke it.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament Thursday, May 29, 2025, the Effutu Member of Parliament said the bail condition is just to punish Chairman Wontumi.
There was near drama as the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who was in the chair, drew the Minority Leader’s attention to orders 93 and 67 of Parliament’s Standing Orders.
But the Minority members rose to their feet, chanting and singing portions of the national anthem.
The Speaker finally granted the Minority Leader leave to raise his concerns. Afeny-Markin stressed the need for the rule of law to be enforced, noting Chairman Wontumi is unwell and has been sent to the NIB clinic.
He said the move by EOCO is just to punish the Ashanti regional NPP Chairman. “It’s clear the 50 million cedis is to punish him.”
He wants EOCO to revoke the 50 million cedis bail condition slapped on Wontumi, or his side would protest by absenting themselves from proceedings. “Eoco must, without delay revoke the bail condition.”
After his submission, the first deputy speaker gave his ruling, indicating parliament cannot help in this matter as it cannot tell EOCO what to do.
The Minority then staged a walked out, and the house subsequently adjourned sitting.
Upon walking out of the chamber, the Minority members continued to the premises of EOCO where they sat on the floor in protest of the bail condition.
