The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed concern over the detention of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, alleging that the current administration is more interested in persecution than prosecution.
This follows the party’s inability to make contact with Chairman Wontumi, after being denied access to him at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) headquarters in Accra on Friday, May 30.
Wontumi, who was earlier detained by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over a criminal investigation, was reportedly moved to the NIB facility.
Although former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin were allowed entry into the NIB compound, they later confirmed that they did not get the opportunity to meet with Wontumi.
In an interview on the Channel One Newsroom on Friday, May 30, 2025, NPP Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed criticised the government’s approach, stating, “This government is interested in persecution, and I don’t know what they want this country to end up.”
He revealed that the party has been unable to ascertain Wontumi’s whereabouts, describing the situation as “very surprising” and unprecedented.
Mohammed drew comparisons to a previous incident involving Koku Anyidohu, the former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who was arrested and detained by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on treason charges.
He noted that during Anyidohu’s detention, then former President John Dramani Mahama and NDC leadership were granted access to meet with him.
“No, we have not been able to find Chairman Wontumi. This is something that is very surprising to all of us,” Mohammed stated.
“I can remember that when Koku Anyidohu, who was a deputy general secretary of the NDC, was arrested and sent to the BNI cells for treason charges, the former President now President John Dramani Mahama and the party leadership were granted access to go in and meet with him. I don’t know what has changed now.”
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