Some members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament and members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have massed up at the National Intelligence Bureau headquarters to demand the immediate release and waiver of bail conditions for NPP's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament on Thursday boycotted parliamentary sitting over the matter.

According to the Minority legislators, they will abstain from attending all parliamentary proceedings until Wontumi, who is under investigation for alleged serious criminal offences, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering, according to Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai, is released from the custody of Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

“The NPP side, however, our numbers, we will protest by absenting ourselves from the proceedings of this House. Mr Speaker, they [EOCO] must do the right thing, and we will not be part of any proceedings until the right thing is done,” Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said.

The NPP legislators embarked on a solidarity walk to the EOCO headquarters to demand his release yesterday. At the premises of EOCO, the legislators staged a sit-down and chanted a number of diplomatic and party songs.

Simultaneously, other party supporters restricted the movements of police officers deployed to ensure safety and security. After minutes of intervention by party leadership, chaos was averted.

On Friday, the Minority MPs returned to Parliament - an act that goes contrary to their earlier position.

Chairman Wontumi spent Wednesday night in the custody of Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) headquarters. EOCO arrested Chairman Wontumi on Tuesday after he appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. On Tuesday, supporters of the opposition party massed up at the EOCO office, demanding the release of Wontumi.

He was sent to the hospital over an illness. He also failed to make a ¢50 million bail with two sureties, both of which must be justified. The Minority has emphasised that the bail is exorbitant and must be varied.

"Have they looked at the Constitution? They should vary the bail term, the man is unwell. He’s in their [EOCO] custody, they know, so they should vary. Wontumi will not run away,” the Minority Leader said.

Leadership of the NPP and Minority have noted that they will not meet the current bail condition and have pledged to mass up at EOCO’s premises on Friday, May 30.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman voluntarily made an appearance at the CID headquarters on Monday alongside his legal team, including former Attorney General Godfred Dame, after an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

He was cautioned on the following allegations: undertaking mining operations without a license, entering a forest reserve without authorisation and pollution of water bodies. Chairman Wontumi denied these claims during his interrogation, presenting documents to authenticate his claims.

He insists he was not involved in any illegal mining activities or operating in any forest reserve. Following the interrogations, the CID granted him bail with two sureties, though the exact amount has not yet been disclosed.

This follows a failed attempt by a joint team of national security operatives and police officers to arrest him at his residence on May 23. After the failed search attempt, Mr Boasiako expressed his displeasure over a search that was orchestrated by national security operatives at his residence.

The search comes after Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Buah, ordered the immediate revocation of Akonta Mining’s licenses, citing allegations of illegal mining and other violations.

During engagement with the media, he accused the company of being involved in galamsey operations and breaching mining regulations.

Mr Buah also claimed that Akonta Mining was illegally selling mining concessions within the Aboi Forest to unauthorized miners, charging up to GH₵300,000 per concession, with some payments reportedly made in gold royalties.

Akonta Mining Company Limited, owned by Chairman Wontumi, has taken legal action against the Minerals Commission and the Minister of Lands, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, claiming GH₵20 million in damages.

The company alleges that during a press conference on April 22, Minister Buah made defamatory remarks, accusing Akonta Mining of illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

The company has strongly denied these accusations, asserting that its mining leases, which were granted in 2021, cover areas outside of the protected reserve.

The lawsuit, filed at the Accra High Court on April 24, argues that the minister's statements were false and damaging to its reputation.