The Minority Caucus in Parliament has scathingly described the arrest of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako as an ambush citing the misuse of power by the government.
They have urged EOCO to vary the GH50 million bail conditions to be met and release him as they stage a sit down at the entrance from 3:00pm.
In addressing the media, Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh- Dompreh expressed grave concern over the manner in which Wontumi was treated by state security agencies, describing it as a simulated display of brute force against a citizen who had shown good faith by voluntarily submitting himself to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Despite his cooperation, Chairman Wontumi was subjected to what Annoh-Dompreh termed “militarized oppression,” a response he likened to tactics used by authoritarian regimes rather than democratic governments.
The MP condemned the arrest as unjust and inhumane, stating that Wontumi was seized in a manner befitting a criminal, though he had not resisted the law. According to him, the Chairman was hurled into detention without dignity, respect, or adherence to the principles of due process. The outcome, he lamented, was tragic—Wontumi collapsed and had to be hospitalized, allegedly as a result of the harsh treatment he received while in custody.
Annoh-Dompreh characterized the experience as a deliberate act of cruelty, questioning whether this reflects the current state of justice and democracy in Ghana.
His speech extended beyond the immediate incident to a broader concern about what he perceives as a dangerous and escalating pattern of political intimidation under the current administration.
He warned that the targeting of Chairman Wontumi may be the latest instance in a trend where state institutions are increasingly weaponized to settle political scores. The erosion of impartiality within the law enforcement agencies and the rise of fear-driven political discourse, he argued, are symptoms of a democracy under siege.
He rejected any suggestion that this was an isolated case or mere coincidence. He called for transparency, fairness, and respect for the rights of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. He stressed that while investigations may be warranted in certain situations, they must be carried out with dignity and integrity—not through unlawful or excessive means. What occurred, in his view, was not a lawful process but an abuse of the law by those tasked with upholding it.
“But make no mistake. This is not just about him. This is about a dangerous pattern that is emerging under this government.”
“The misuse of state institutions to settle political scores. The erosion of impartiality in our law enforcement agencies. And the growing culture of fear and silence that has been imposed on our political discourse.”
“We cannot. And we will not. We will not allow Iyoko, the NIB, the police, or any state agency to be weaponized for political intimidation.” He read
The Minority in Parliament, according to him, will not be silent or passive in the face of these developments.
He pledged their collective resistance to any form of political persecution and vowed to continue speaking truth to power, even at great personal risk.
Annoh-Dompreh positioned the incident as a pivotal moment, not just in the story of one political figure, but in the democratic journey of the nation. He called on Ghanaians to remain vigilant and to rise in defense of democratic values and civil liberties.
He concluded by directing his message squarely at the current administration and its security apparatus, reminding them that they are being observed—not just by political opponents, but by the Ghanaian people and by history itself. His closing sentiments served as both a warning and a declaration: the Minority is watching, the people are watching, and history is watching.