In an unusual display of political solidarity, Minority Members of Parliament on Thursday, May 29, marched to the offices of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in support of embattled Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the MPs described their action as both a gesture of support and a protest against what they termed the “unfair and excessive treatment” of Wontumi, who has been in EOCO custody since May 27 over alleged financial irregularities linked to EXIMBANK.

Speaking in Parliament ahead of the march, Afenyo-Markin criticised EOCO’s handling of the case, calling on the investigative body to act within the bounds of fairness and the rule of law.
“Do your work but respect the law,” he said. “There are many people who have appeared before investigative agencies and they are treated with respect. They go, cooperate, and when it is time to go to court, they do. But the way we are treating ourselves now—it will come back to haunt us in 2029. Let’s be careful.”

Central to the MPs’ concerns is the GHS50 million bail condition imposed on Chairman Wontumi, along with the requirement for two sureties.

Afenyo-Markin described the terms as unreasonable and punitive.
“We don’t have GHS50 million worth of properties. Where is he going to get it from?” Afenyo-Markin questioned.

“Until EOCO is able to do the right thing, we the NPP side—however few our numbers—will protest by absenting ourselves from Parliament and join him. We are all going to sleep there with him. We are not going to ask for any property,” he stated.

The Minority Leader also appealed for bipartisan unity on the issue, urging Members of Parliament to hold EOCO accountable.
“I pray that my colleagues will support so that with one voice EOCO will know that when it got to this matter of Chairman Wontumi, Parliament was united,” he added.