Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, has raised serious concerns about what he describes as the potential misuse of Ghana’s bail system. He cautioned against allowing it to be weaponised to unfairly target ordinary citizens.
Dr. Zaato made the remarks on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, May 29, amid rising political tensions following the arrest of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi—the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
On Wednesday, May 28, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) granted Wontumi bail, pegged at GHS50 million with two sureties to be justified. His lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed the bail terms after his client underwent hours of interrogation, which began the day before at EOCO’s headquarters.
Wontumi is reportedly under investigation for alleged financial dealings with EXIM Bank, though EOCO has yet to release full details.
His arrest prompted a swift reaction from within the NPP, with dozens of supporters and senior party figures gathering outside EOCO to demand his release.
Dr. Zaato, reflecting on the broader implications, warned against setting a precedent that could lead to injustice.
“Four months is not enough to win the fight against galamsey, but four months is enough to begin changing the narrative and say we are reducing it, and nobody has said that, and that is a problem.
“Do not give an appetite to say that a bail system should be weaponised against ordinary people,” he said.
