Wontumi's Arrest: Party Supporters Beg Alhaji Masawudu Osman to Ensure NPP Chairman's Release

• New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters have made a passionate appeal to the third National Chairman of the party to ensure the release of Chairman Wontumi
• Chairman Wontumi was arrested on May 27, 2025, by EOCO officials over claims of engaging in fraudulent activities and has since not been released
• Party members are worried and have appealed to their leaders to facilitate the process of his release
• In an exclusive interview with YEN.com.gh, a Human Rights advocate gave insights into the matter

New Patriotic Party (NPP) members are concerned over the detention of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Chairman Wontumi was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office over claims he had engaged in fraudulent activities.

He was granted a GH¢50 million bail, but due to his inability to meet the condition, he remains in police custody.

Party executives claim the bail conditions are unreasonable and are calling for a review of his release.

Efforts to get the NPP stalwart out of police custody intensified on Thursday, May 29, 2025, as party leaders and members marched to the EOCO headquarters in Accra to protest his detention.

Their efforts did not yield positive results as EOCO did not release Chairman Wontumi upon their request. In the end, they all dispersed and departed for their homes.

Reports emerged on May 30, 2025, that Chairman Wontumi had been transferred to the National Intelligence Bureau headquarters.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who was absent on the first day of the party's EOCO protest, marched to the NIB headquarters to assess the situation. Many party supporters were locked up outside the premises, demanding Wontumi's release.

A disgruntled man passionately appealed to Alhaji Masawudu to ensure the release of the party faithful, promising that he would be maintained as the party's chairman if Wontumi is released.

Watch the video of the man pleading with Chairman Masawudu for Wontumi's release below:

Human Rights advocate asks government to follow due process

Speaking exclusively to YEN.com.gh, a Ghanaian Human Rights advocate, George Hawkins, expressed his views on the matter. He called for due process to be followed in Chairman Wontumi's case regardless of his political difference.

"Under Ghanaian law, detaining a person in police custody beyond 48 hours without a court order is a violation of their constitutional rights. I believe due process must be followed. The relevant institutions should not allow partisan politics to blind them and stop them from doing the right thing," he said.

Netizens react to NPP supporter's plea

Netizens who saw the video of disgruntled party supporters demanding Chairman Wontumi's release expressed mixed reactions in the comments section. While some supported the move, others criticised the party supporters.

@SHUBERT wrote:

"If the npp were smart and intelligent people they will just take him off the ashanti regional chairmanship and allow the law to take its full course. That’s what every well known political parties do world wide. Remember he was corrupt as an individual not as a party."

@Joseph Appiah wrote:

"Reunion."

@Big Ben wrote:

"Gyemea saa na afe aso."

@Kelvinboye470 wrote:

"Nkwasiaaa nickname sei…chairman drop the mic."

@Frimpong Bless wrote:

"Chairman wei de3 gyemie paaa herr."

Martin Kpebu criticises Chairman Wontumi’s continued detention

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Lawyer Martin Kpebu has criticised EOCO for detaining NPP’s Chairman Wontumi despite granting him bail.

Chairman Wontumi was arrested at the CID headquarters and granted GH¢50 million bail with two sureties.

Kpebu, who previously reported Wontumi for illegal mining, insists the case should go to court, not EOCO custody.

Source: YEN.com.gh