Renowned legal practitioner Kwaku Ansa-Asare has criticised the Minority Caucus of Parliament over its actions on Thursday, May 29, 2025, regarding the continued detention of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi).

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Ansa-Asare, a former Director-General of the Ghana School of Law, asserted that the Minority Caucus’s decision to stage a walkout in Parliament and a sit-in on the road in front of the head office of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) was unnecessary.

He indicated that the only way the NPP MPs could have challenged the bail conditions Wontumi has been slapped with was to go to court.

“If you ask for bail, there are certain conditions you have to fulfil and, you know, asking the police or EOCO to release him is not the way to go. I think it's just playing to the gallery, trying to attract some sympathy for Wontumi.

“And if all of us know who Wontumi is, I don't think that the Minority will. Do you know what they have done? First of all, they have to go to EOCO to find out the cause for his arrest, find out whether it has the support of legality and whether the force that was applied in effecting the arrest was expected in the circumstances. If everything were lawful, then they are just doing politics," he said.

He added, “If, on the other hand, there has been a violation of fundamental human rights, then they have a course of action, but sitting down on the floor of Parliament or by the roadside is not the way to go. They should go to court and apply for bail.”

The former Ghana School of Law director-general also stated that EOCO has done no wrong in the way they have handled the arrest of the Ashanti Regional NPP chairman.

“Wontumi was informed of the reason for his arrest. He was told that under the 1992 Constitution, he can choose a lawyer of his own choice to represent him, and that his freedom has lawfully been restricted. No one can fault EOCO for doing what they have done. It is by law,” he said.

Chairman Wontumi was arrested and detained by EOCO after reporting to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

He was granted bail set at GH¢50 million with two sureties, both to be justified, after hours of interrogation.

Initial reports indicated that he was unable to meet the bail conditions, resulting in an extended stay in EOCO custody for an additional night.

However, Accra-based JoyNews reports that the politician has, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, managed to secure one surety, with only one remaining to fully satisfy the bail requirements.

BAI/MA





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