Wontumi’s EOCO arrest violates constitution – Hassan Tampuli – Nsemkeka
Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Hassan Tampuli, is not enthused by the arrest and continued detention of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
According to the NPP MP, the move is unconstitutional.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, May 31, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator argued that Wontumi’s detention beyond the legally mandated 48-hour period violates Article 14 (3) of the 1992 Constitution, which safeguards personal liberty.
“What does the law say? Is his continued detention, restriction, and arrests contrary to the law? Yes, it is. It violates and contaminates Article 14 (3) of the 1992 Constitution,” Mr Tampuli stated.
The MP further suggested that the prolonged detention smacks of political persecution, questioning the motives behind EOCO’s actions.
Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, was re-arrested by EOCO after leaving Police CID earlier this week over allegations of financial crimes, though details of the charges remain unclear.
Lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, the legal representative for Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has declared his intention to focus solely on legal processes to secure his client’s release, vowing to “stay out of the politics and the theatrics.”
Chairman Wontumi is currently in detention by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews on Friday, May 30, shortly after an attempt to secure Chairman Wontumi’s release, his lawyer emphasised a commitment to working strictly “within the law”.
“I beg you, all of you; I will stay out of the politics and the theatrics and I’ll do the work within the law,” he stated, seemingly addressing the heightened political tension surrounding his client’s detention.
The lawyer confirmed a significant breakthrough in meeting the bail conditions, stating, “We have been able to provide the sureties; that one I can assure you.”
At the same time, he has also filed an application at the High Court to vary the bail conditions presented by EOCO.
Mr Appiah-Kubi expressed gratitude to “Honourable Bryan Acheampong” for his support in filing the necessary documents, noting that the provided properties were “over and above the value of money that is required.”
Despite successfully presenting the sureties, Chairman Wontumi will not be going home soon and will likely spend the weekend in detention.
His lawyer revealed a sudden “legal challenge” that has emerged.
“We encountered a challenge… a legal challenge unknown to me; there was an application… that prohibits us,” he explained.
The lawyer indicated that this new application, “not filed by my good self”, will be addressed on Monday.
His comments follow two days of protests by NPP party members demanding the release of Chairman Wontumi.
The protests, which began with a march from Parliament to EOCO’s head office in Accra on Thursday, escalated as Minority MPs, led by their Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, sat on the floor in symbolic defiance of what they described as “unreasonable” bail conditions imposed on their embattled colleague.
Chairman Wontumi, who was arrested earlier this week and interrogated by EOCO, was later granted bail of GH¢50 million with two sureties to be justified, a condition party members claim is excessive and politically motivated.