Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has claimed he was on the brink of death while in the custody of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
Speaking during a campaign event for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in Asokwa, Chairman Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, recounted being mistreated and held in a small, poorly ventilated room.
“I nearly died. It took the grace of God to keep me alive,” he stated, adding, “When you are about to die, you see the ghosts of your deceased relatives. I started seeing my dead relatives, and that was when I knew I was dying.”
“Taking inspiration from the crucifixion story of Jesus Christ, Mr. Bosiako said he prayed to God, recalling the Aramaic phrase, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”
“At one point, I knew my time was up, but I took inspiration from Jesus Christ. While on the cross, he shouted, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.’ I prayed to God to intervene.”
Background
Chairman Wontumi’s arrest and detention by EOCO were part of an investigation into alleged criminal offenses.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, who made a public post on Facebook on May 29, 2025, the NPP Chairman was being investigated on suspicion of fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
The investigation also included concurrent efforts to recover assets to prevent the dissipation of suspected proceeds of crime.
Chairman Wontumi was released on June 2, 2025, five days after successfully meeting his bail conditions.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana