There’s nothing we can do about Wontumi’s GH₵50m bail, go to court – Deputy Speaker to Minority
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has advised the Minority in Parliament to go to court if they are unhappy with the GH₵50 million bail condition given to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi.
He explained that Parliament does not have the power to interfere in decisions made by the courts or security agencies.
According to him, if the minority feels the bail condition is too harsh, their best option is to apply to the High Court to challenge it.
What Bernard Ahiafor said
“This is a matter that can adequately be addressed by the judiciary. For me, if a decision of an institution can be challenged at the court if a security agency impose a bail condition that you feel that the bail condition is harsh, I do not think Parliament will have the authority to call for a review of that particular decision,” he stated.
He also mentioned that if someone is being held longer than the law allows, the law provides a clear legal process to follow to deal with that.
Ahiafor’s comments came after the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, expressed concern in Parliament about what he called unfair and harsh bail conditions placed on Chairman Wontumi.
He said Wontumi had already spent 48 hours in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), even though he is not feeling well. He was later moved to a small clinic at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Afenyo-Markin argued that setting bail at GH₵50 million and asking for property justification was too much. He pointed out that Wontumi is not on trial and has been cooperating with investigators.
The bail terms
He said the bail terms seemed more like punishment for a political opponent.
“He’s unwell now, and it’s been 48 hours. Mr Speaker, EOCO does not have a health facility, so they have transferred him to the NIB health facility. NIB has a small clinic but Mr Speaker, is that clinic able to give him the treatment he needs?
“I must argue that EOCO cannot arrogate the power of demanding justification at the enquiry level. You are doing an investigation, the matter is not before a court for trial and then you make the bail condition so onerous. It is clear that this is being used to punish him,” he said.
Chairman Wontumi was arrested earlier this week and later granted bail by EOCO. His arrest and the conditions of his bail have caused anger among some NPP Members of Parliament and supporters. Many of them believe state institutions are being used to target political figures.
In the middle of all this, the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, has disclosed that Wontumi is being investigated for very serious offences. These include fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.