Wontumi Under Probe for Fraud, Money Laundering; Case Linked to Larger International Crime Scheme - Deputy AG

Accra, Ghana - 29 May, 2025 - Ghana's Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Srem-Sai, has revealed that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is under investigation for serious crimes, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.

According to Dr. Srem-Sai, the investigation is two-pronged, with one strand focusing on asset recovery to prevent further dissipation of suspected proceeds of crime. 

In a statement on Facebook, Justice Srem-Sai revealed that the investigation is not only local but also part of a wider international organised crime probe, being undertaken in collaboration with global law enforcement partners.

The Deputy Attorney-General's statement comes after Minority NPP Members of Parliament staged a walkout from the House and marched to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) headquarters in Accra to protest what they described as harsh bail conditions imposed on Chairman Wontumi. The NPP MPs and party executives picketed outside EOCO's premises, demanding a review of the bail conditions and insisting that Wontumi's detention was politically motivated.

According to Justice Srem-Sai, the investigation into Chairman Wontumi's activities is running concurrently with asset recovery processes to prevent further dissipation of suspected proceeds of crime. The bail terms, which include significant financial and legal obligations, are part of efforts to ensure that suspected illicit assets are not lost or moved during the investigation.

''Suspect BERNARD ANTWI BOASIAKO, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi, is under investigation for various criminal offences (including fraud, causing financial loss to the State, and money laundering).   The criminal investigation is running concurrently with asset recovery processes - to prevent further dissipation of what law enforcement agencies strongly suspect to be proceeds of crime,'' portions of the statement read.

Chairman Wontumi was arrested by EOCO on Tuesday, May 27, after he reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning. He was subsequently held at the EOCO head office in Accra and granted bail of GH¢50 million with two sureties, both to be justified.

However, he spent the night behind bars at the EOCO headquarters after failing to meet the full bail conditions.

Read the facebook post below;

Source: Lead News Online