Minority Walks Out of Parliament, Marches to EOCO in Solidarity with Chairman Wontumi

Accra, May 29, 2025 — Members of the Minority in Parliament on Thursday staged a dramatic walkout and marched to the headquarters of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in a bold gesture of solidarity with 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 protest and a moral stance against what they termed as unjust and excessive treatment of Chairman Wontumi, who has been in EOCO custody since May 27 over alleged financial irregularities involving EXIMBANK.

The MPs left the Chamber in protest immediately after morning proceedings and headed towards EOCO’s offices, chanting and demanding a review of what they consider punitive bail conditions. Chairman Wontumi is reportedly facing a GHS50 million bail with two sureties—terms the Minority says are unreasonable and oppressive.

Speaking to journalists before leading the walkout, Afenyo-Markin stressed the need for EOCO to respect due process and the rights of individuals under investigation.

“Do your work, but respect the law,” he said. “People have appeared before investigative agencies and were treated with dignity. What we’re seeing now is alarming. If we allow this to fester, it will come back to haunt us by 2029.”

He questioned the feasibility of the bail conditions, stating: “We don’t have GHS50 million worth of properties. Where is he going to get it from?”

Afenyo-Markin added that until EOCO reconsiders its approach, the Minority will continue to stand with Chairman Wontumi—even pledging to remain outside Parliament and join him in detention if necessary.

“We’re not just protesting in words. We are withdrawing from Parliament. We’ll be with him. We are all going to sleep there with him if that’s what it takes,” he declared.

He further called for bipartisan support to ensure fairness and accountability in EOCO’s conduct.

“I hope my colleagues on the other side will join us, so that when EOCO looks back at this issue, it will remember that Parliament stood united on the principles of justice,” Afenyo-Markin said.

As of press time, EOCO had not issued a formal response to the Minority’s demands or the walkout.

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