In a dramatic show of solidarity, Members of Parliament from Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) have vowed to boycott parliamentary proceedings and spend the night at the offices of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), following the detention of their colleague, Bernard Antwi Boasiako—popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin described the move as a protest against what he called “excessive” bail conditions imposed on the Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, who is currently under investigation over alleged financial misconduct involving EXIMBANK.
“Until EOCO does the right thing, we on the NPP side will protest by absenting ourselves from Parliament and joining him. We are all going to sleep there with him,” Afenyo-Markin declared on the floor of Parliament.
Wontumi was arrested on May 27 and is being held at EOCO after reportedly failing to meet a GHS50 million bail requirement with two sureties. His legal team argues that the terms are disproportionate and punitive.
“We don’t have GHS50 million worth of properties. Where is he going to get it from?” Afenyo-Markin questioned, suggesting that the bail amount was beyond the reach of an ordinary private citizen.
While critics may view the NPP’s walkout as an attempt to interfere in an ongoing legal process, the party insists their actions are rooted in principle rather than partisanship.
“This is not about shielding anyone,” Afenyo-Markin clarified. “We’re asking for fairness. Do your work, but respect the law.”
The Minority Leader also revealed that the response to Wontumi’s detention had united Parliament across party lines, an increasingly rare occurrence in Ghana’s often deeply divided legislature.
EOCO has not yet responded publicly to the protest or the concerns raised about the bail conditions.
As the political standoff intensifies, the move marks a rare moment where parliamentary protest extends beyond legislative chambers, raising questions about the balance between justice, political loyalty, and the power of institutions in Ghana’s democracy.
