Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, has criticised the Minority caucus in Parliament for what he described as their swift return to parliamentary business after staging a walkout in protest of the continued detention of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
On Thursday, May 29, several Minority MPs marched from Parliament to the headquarters of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra to demand the immediate release of Wontumi, who is under investigation for alleged financial irregularities involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank). The demonstration disrupted traffic and drew a strong police presence.
Chairman Wontumi, was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, while returning from the Police headquarters after reporting to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Though EOCO granted him bail of GHS50 million on Wednesday, May 28, the conditions, requiring two justified sureties—are yet to be met.
The Minority’s protest appeared short-lived, as members returned to Parliament the following day, Friday, May 30, ending their boycott.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, May 30, Adongo mocked the Minority MPs for what he saw as abandoning Wontumi after publicly championing his cause.
“I think Wontumi will be very sad that you are here [Parliament] talking. He was expecting you to sleep at EOCO with him. You abandoned him to sleep there, and you promised the people of Ghana that you abandoned this chamber; you are here making a lot of arguments.
He added, “You people should tell Wontumi that his people are deceiving him. He’s sleeping there alone, and you are here arguing for more holidays. We were surprised when they were sitting on the ground there, but when we went there at 7 pm, they had disappeared.”
Meanwhile, the 2024 flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is reportedly leading efforts to meet the bail conditions for Wontumi.
Minority’s walkout strategy ‘outdated’ in current parliament – ACEPA
