Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has insisted that Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, cannot be described as a flight risk.

In a statement sighted by GhanaWeb on August 12, 2026, he explained that the state has kept Chairman Wontumi’s passport for the past year, making it impossible for him to flee.

"We have read with dismay the front-page headline in The New Publisher: 'Attorney General Opposes Bail: Wontumi Will Run Away From Ghana.' Let me state this clearly and categorically: Disregard this claim. Chairman Wontumi is not a flight risk," the statement read.

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He emphasised that the Ashanti Regional Chairman has never requested the release of his passport, stressing that without travel documents, he cannot abscond.

"How will Chairman Wontumi 'run away from Ghana' when the State itself has held his passport for over 1 year? Let the record show: He has never once requested for the release of his passport — not for medical treatment, not for visitation, not for any reason.

"...A man without travel documents cannot flee. To suggest otherwise is to insult the intelligence of Ghanaians," the statement added.

Dr Boakye-Danquah further asserted that it is the duty of the High Court to determine bail conditions, not the Attorney General.

He therefore urged the Attorney General to desist from media prosecutions and allow the courts to function independently.

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"We call on the Attorney General to desist from media prosecution. Allow the High Court to do its work without pressure. Return to the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'.

"Ghana is bigger than any individual or any political party. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done — fairly, and without fear or favor," the statement partly said.

"Bail is a constitutional right Article 14(4) 1992 Constitution. It is the duty of the High Court to determine bail conditions, not the Attorney General to pre-judge and pronounce guilt in the media.

“Why is there so much state interference in judicial decisions? Why can the Attorney General not allow the law to work and allow the court to make its own determination without prejudice?" the statement added.

Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah further insisted that Chairman Wontumi is a noble man and a law-abiding citizen, stressing that he cannot be described as a flight risk.

"Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako 'Wontumi' is a noble man and gentleman. He is a law-abiding citizen, a businessman, a politician, and a Ghanaian who believes in this country. He has submitted himself to every process. He has not absconded. He has not interfered. He has respected the State," he stated.

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He also cautioned against the manner in which issues relating to the Ashanti Regional Chairman are being handled, warning that such approaches could undermine fairness and due process.

"We must be careful how we handle these issues. When we weaponise the law and use media trials to destroy reputations, we erode public trust in our institutions," the statement said.

VKB/VPO

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