Former Vice President and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for calm among party supporters following the continued detention of the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi.

Dr Bawumia made the appeal during a visit to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) premises, where he and other senior party figures were denied access to the detained party official.

Despite what he described as prior arrangements, the delegation was unable to see Wontumi, a development that has drawn sharp criticism from the NPP leader.

“We are very, very disappointed in our inability to see him. We had made prior arrangements, and we’ve expressed our disappointment,” Dr Bawumia told journalists.

He also criticised the bail terms set by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), describing the GH¢50 million requirement—backed by two justified sureties—as unnecessarily harsh and deliberately obstructive.

“I must put on record that the bail conditions set for Chairman Wontumi are very onerous. I don’t know how many people in Ghana have property worth GH¢50 million. I believe this was just set to prevent his timely release,” he stated.

• Read also: Bawumia, Minority Leader, granted access to Wontumi as tensions mount over detention

Despite his frustration, Dr Bawumia reaffirmed the party’s commitment to due process, promising to pursue all legal avenues to secure the Chairman’s release.

“We are going to follow the due process, the legal process, to make sure that he is released as early as possible,” he said.

He concluded with a strong appeal to NPP supporters to exercise restraint and avoid any form of unlawful behaviour in response to the situation.

“I want to plead with all of you to remain calm as we work behind the scenes to ensure that he is out. I believe he will be successful. We must be calm and not take the law into our own hands.”

The continued detention of Chairman Wontumi has sparked political tension and drawn widespread attention.