By Gifty Boateng
A young commercial (trotro) driver who joined the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to chant for the release of the Ashanti Regional chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako has exposed the party.
Allegedly, he grabbed a whopping GHc1, 300 for finding himself at the premises of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), where some executive and supporters of the party, had stormed to demand the release of the owner of mining firm, Akonta Mining on Tuesday May 27.
Speaking to Joy FM’s James Avedzi, on day 3 of the chairman otherwise known as Chairman Wontumi’s detention, the young man believed to be in his 20s spilled the bean, saying he got the money from one of the leaders.
To buttress his claim, the driver tried to point the person from the crowd however, he could not mention his name. When Avedzi probed more he brought GHc300 telling him he has used the rest.
He asserted he was not concern about why the crowd had gathered but rather he is looking forward to another chance to grab more.
“I am waiting because I am hopeful they will share money again. Last Tuesday they shared money. One man, I have forgotten his name, he shared money”, he said pointing into the crowd.
When asked how much he secured, he said “1, 300” while bringing the rest of the money from his pocket.
He went on to explain how he was able to get that amount alone. “I was right in front of him so I got a lot. I don’t really care about what is happening here because I am a trotro driver, it is a party thing, it’s not my business”. That is not my car parked over there.
On Thursday, May29, the NPP Minority in Parliament staged a surprise walk out after their attempt to get the house to prevail upon EOCO to vary Wontumi’s bail conditions failed to materialize.
After boycotting the house, the caucus walked to EOCO office seeking to officials to do something about the bail condition.
After staying there for over 3 hours and sitting on the bare floor to protest, they were left disappointed as they were told both the Executive Secretary Raymond Archer and his deputy were not at post.
Minority chief whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh read a statement calling on the government to reduce the bail condition.
They later left the place with a promised to return today, Friday May 30.
Meanwhile, the government has broken it silence on why Bernard Antwi-Boasiako has been detained and charged by EOCO. According to deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice Srem-Sai has disclosed that Chairman Wontumi is being pursued for series of crimes including his alleged involvement in an international organized crime networks.
According to the deputy minister, the politician is being investigated for crimes such as fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. He disclosed this in a state release via his social media handle Facebook, on Thursday night, May 29.
“Suspect, BERNARD ANTWI-BOASIAKO, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi, is under investigation for various criminal offences (including fraud, causing financial loss to the State, and money laundering)”, Srem-Sai said.
He continued “The criminal investigation is running concurrently with asset recovery processes to prevent further dissipation of what law enforcement agencies strongly suspect to be proceeds of crime”, the Deputy AG said.