Bawumia urges EOCO to respect Chairman Wontumi’s rights

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to respect the constitutional rights of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, following his recent arrest and continued detention.

Wontumi, who serves as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was arrested after he responded to an invitation from the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Tuesday. Since then, his location has not been disclosed, raising concerns among party members and the general public.

Dr. Bawumia expressed his concern in a statement shared on Facebook on Wednesday. He emphasized that while Ghana is a democratic country where no one is above the law, every citizen still deserves legal protection and fair treatment under the Constitution.

“In a democratic environment as ours, no individual is above the law,” he wrote. “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.”

He described the lack of clear charges and the uncertainty around Wontumi’s whereabouts as troubling, adding that he has been in touch with Wontumi’s legal team to ensure his rights are upheld. Dr. Bawumia also praised the lawyers for their “professionalism and vigilance.”

Calling on EOCO and other state institutions to stay within the limits of the law, Dr. Bawumia warned that ignoring due process could damage public confidence in the justice system. “I am deeply concerned about the arrest and continued detention of Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Wontumi), particularly as the charges remain vague, and his whereabouts remain unknown,” he stated.

He stressed that Ghana must always be governed by laws and not by unchecked authority. “Ghana must always remain a nation governed by law not by arbitrary power. Our Republic is strongest when our institutions are both firm and fair,” Dr. Bawumia concluded.