Chairman Wontumi Hospitalized During EOCO Interrogation Amid Political Tensions – GhArticles.com
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was rushed to a hospital on Tuesday, May 27, after falling ill during an interrogation session at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra.
His lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, confirmed the incident to the press, stating that his client was currently receiving medical treatment but declined to reveal the hospital’s name or location. “I know where he is, but I’m not disclosing the hospital. All I can say is that he’s receiving medical attention,” he said.
Appiah-Kubi indicated that the EOCO questioning had not yet been completed. “He responded to the allegations. We’ll return to continue the process once he’s well, either tomorrow or whenever the doctors discharge him,” he added.
In addition to the ongoing probe, Appiah-Kubi acknowledged receiving a writ of summons from Exim Bank concerning Wontumi, stating the team would respond legally the next day and was confident in their defense.
Chairman Wontumi’s troubles began earlier in the day when he honored an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to assist in an investigation into suspected illegal mining. He had been previously cautioned over alleged activities including operating without a mining license, polluting water bodies, and encroaching on protected forest lands.
Despite cooperating with CID investigators and being granted bail, he was re-arrested by EOCO officials immediately after leaving the CID premises and taken for further questioning. The move sparked outrage among NPP members and supporters, many of whom gathered at EOCO’s headquarters in protest.
The protests prompted the deployment of military personnel to maintain order, as tensions flared.
Senior NPP figures condemned the arrest, describing it as politically charged and heavy-handed. National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye accused EOCO and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of targeting opposition figures for intimidation. “This is political harassment disguised as investigation,” he said.
Former Greater Accra Regional Minister Titus Glover echoed these sentiments, calling the arrest a “Rambo-style” operation and a sign of a larger political witch-hunt. He urged EOCO to publicly clarify any formal charges if they exist.