From Limping to Laughing: Wontumi Visits Party HQ in White to Show Gratitude

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, made a dramatic appearance at the party’s national headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, just a day after being released from detention by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Wontumi, who was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, and held for a week in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged fraud and money laundering, was granted bail after meeting stringent conditions, including a GH₵50 million bond with two sureties to be justified.

On June 3, he arrived at the NPP headquarters clad in an all-white outfit — a symbolic gesture of victory and gratitude. He was greeted by scores of jubilant supporters and party executives, some of whom had campaigned vigorously for his release.

His demeanor was strikingly different from his release day, where he appeared frail and limping. In a dramatic moment, Wontumi lifted one of his legs to signal he was in good health, drawing cheers from the crowd.

“I had to come and show how grateful I am,” he declared. “May God bless you all. Everything will be fine.”

During a brief address, Chairman Wontumi singled out NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, whom he praised for his “unshakable leadership and loyalty” during his legal ordeal.

“Kodua stood by me when I needed the party the most. Leadership is tested in tough times, and he passed that test,” Wontumi said emotionally.

Though EOCO has not released full details of the charges or the outcome of their ongoing investigations, sources close to the probe allege that the case involves suspicious financial transactions and potential money laundering. However, Wontumi has yet to be formally charged.

The visit to the party’s headquarters appears to be a calculated political move to reaffirm his influence within the NPP, especially in the Ashanti Region, a stronghold of the party.

It also signals that Wontumi remains a powerful figure ahead of internal party activities and the broader political calendar.

While the government and EOCO have remained silent on when or if formal charges will be brought, the political significance of Wontumi’s reappearance cannot be overlooked.