Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed deep disappointment over the inability of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership to meet with their detained Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Speaking to journalists outside the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) headquarters in Accra on Friday, May 30, Dr. Bawumia explained that arrangements had been made to check on the embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman, who has been in custody for the past four days following his arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

“Our Chairman, Wontumi, was arrested and has been held in custody by EOCO. We wanted to see him and find out how he is doing,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

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

However, he revealed that officials at the NIB cited the large crowd gathered outside the facility as a reason they could not facilitate the meeting.

“Unfortunately, we are here, but the NIB feels that the crowd is such that they are not able to bring him here at the moment, and they have to make proper arrangements to bring him so that we can see him,” he explained.

Dr. Bawumia stated that the visit had been planned in advance, and the party was disappointed that it could not go ahead as expected.

“We are very disappointed in our inability to see him because we made prior arrangements. We’ve expressed our disappointment and will continue engaging to ensure we can see him,” he added.

Chairman Wontumi was granted bail by EOCO to the tune of GH¢50 million with two sureties, both to be justified.

As of Friday, only one surety had been secured, leaving him in custody. His continued detention has sparked widespread protests among NPP supporters and party officials.

• Read also: Tensions rise as NPP supporters besiege NIB headquarters over Wontumi’s transfer

Earlier in the day, supporters of the NPP thronged the headquarters of the NIB in Accra following reports that Chairman Wontumi had been transferred there.

According to JoyNews correspondent James Avedzi, the NPP supporters were transported in two Sprinter buses from the EOCO headquarters to the NIB premises after news broke of Wontumi’s relocation.

Chanting slogans and demanding his release, the supporters were met with closed gates as security personnel at the NIB restricted access to the facility.

Several Members of Parliament and senior party officials were also seen at the scene, seeking access to the premises.