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.”
[embedded content]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.
On the second day, party members besieged the head office of EOCO again and were later bussed to the head office of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) after they got a hint that Chairman Wontumi might have been transferred there.
However, Mr Appiah-Kubi, a member of the NPP and immediate past MP for Asante Akim North, prefers a different approach.
“You see, there is a way of doing everything. If you use the way to do it, you will do it as expected. So you don’t start throwing stones when you want to enter the house. What is the time? This is 8:00 pm, but we’ve gotten public officers [of EOCO] to stay here and wait for us [even though they close at 5:00 pm]. It depends on how you conduct the business,” he said in an apparent response to the way the NPP handled that matter.
Earlier in the day, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia expressed deep disappointment over what he said was the inability of the NPP leadership to meet with their detained regional chairman.
Again, Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyire, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, alleged that Chairman Wontumi had refused to eat as a form of protest.
Regarding Chairman Wontumi’s whereabouts and health, Mr Appiah-Kubi clarified, “We had brought him to meet with the [former] Vice President but the situation we saw was difficult to arrange this meeting to pass through the crowd to get the [former] Vice President to see him and talk to him so we had to take him back.”
He assured the public about his client’s condition, stating, “his condition of health requires attention, so he’s receiving attention. He is wholly good, he’s wholly healthy, and there’s nothing to worry about in respect of his health.”
The lawyer expressed optimism that with the new legal hurdle addressed, Chairman Wontumi could be free as early as Monday.
On the hunger strike, Mr Appiah-Kubi stated on JoyNews’ The Pulse earlier that he had not received any such information, revealing that he had shared a meal with his client just days ago.
“Two days ago in the evening, I had dinner with him. I’m going to see him now at EOCO. After that, he will respond whether this happened today or yesterday,” the lawyer said.
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