EOCO Clamps Down, Orders Him to Report 3/Times A Week from June 4th
The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has slapped a freezing order on a fleet of high-end vehicles belonging to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi.
This bombshell development comes as the NPP stalwart prepares to report to EOCO tomorrow, June 4, after a tumultuous week in detention.
Sources close to the investigation indicate that EOCO has seized control of a dazzling array of luxury cars, with whispers of Mercedes Benz, BMW, Jaguar SUVs, Ferraris, Toyota Land Cruisers, and Corvettes among others, all pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Wontumi, who also serves as the CEO of Akonta Mining Company, found himself in EOCO’s custody from Tuesday, May 28, facing a litany of probes, including serious allegations linked to illegal mining, notoriously dubbed “galamsey.”
His release came late last night, Monday, June 2, after a protracted struggle to meet his hefty GHc50 million bail, which finally saw the light of day.
While temporarily free, the visibly frail-looking Wontumi is now under strict orders to report to EOCO three times a week, commencing tomorrow.
He’s also expected to furnish the anti-graft agency with a comprehensive list of his extensive vehicle collection.
After nearly a week in the “coolers,” Wontumi emerged to a welcoming committee of party executives and fervent supporters at the Alisa Hotel.
He was notably seen leaning on the support of NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua, a clear sign of the intense pressure he’s been under.
Wontumi’s ordeal began on Tuesday, May 27, following a visit to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, where he is also being grilled over various alleged offenses.
His lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, revealed that his client was initially granted bail of GHc50 million with two sureties to be justified on the very day of his arrest.
However, meeting these stringent conditions proved to be an uphill battle for his legal team, leading to a massive mobilization of minority Members of Parliament and supporters at both EOCO and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), where Wontumi was transferred on Friday, May 30.
In a late-night twist, the MP for Abetifi constituency reportedly stepped forward to offer himself as a surety, seemingly paving the way for Wontumi’s imminent release.
But just as freedom seemed within reach, a surprising turn of events unfolded: NPP lawyer Gary Nimako – allegedly dispatched by the camp of former Vice President and presidential hopeful, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia – filed a writ in court the same day, seeking a variation of the bail conditions. This move, according to insiders, was aimed at preventing the Abetifi MP from stealing the political spotlight.
Dr. Bawumia himself reportedly visited the NIB on that same Friday, though his attempt to see the suspect was unsuccessful.
The Abetifi MP is widely rumored to harbor presidential ambitions for the NPP primaries in the lead-up to the 2028 general election, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding drama.
Wontumi’s legal team was reportedly blindsided by Nimako’s court action. Appiah-Kubi, upon learning of the move, expressed his regret, emphasizing that his team had been working diligently behind the scenes and were on the cusp of securing Wontumi’s release.
Indeed, all indications point to Wontumi’s recent incarceration morphing into a public spectacle for the NPP’s internal presidential campaign, with various factions flexing their political muscles on the very stage of his legal woes.