The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has come under heavy fire from Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former vice president and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate for 2024, for the arrest and detention of Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi.
Concerned about the arrest, Dr. Bawumia wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, May 28, that it is still unclear where Chairman Wontumi is.
The former vice president emphasized the significance of due process and the necessity of protecting the accused’s rights.
”In a democratic environment such as ours, no individual is above the law. Equally, no Ghanaian—regardless of political affiliation or status—should ever be denied their constitutional rights. Justice and due process are not optional; they are the foundation of our democracy,”
In order to make sure his rights are protected and due process is observed, Dr. Bawumia added that he has been in close communication with Chairman Wontumi’s legal team since the morning.
He warned that any departure from due process could damage public confidence in the legal system and threaten Ghana’s democratic values, and he urged EOCO to uphold the rights of the NPP regional chairman.
As part of an ongoing investigation, EOCO arrested Chairman Wontumi on Tuesday, May 27, at the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) premises.