Factsheet: Wontumi's GHc 50 million bail is not new

The claim

The Ashanti regional chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) was arrested on May 27, 2025, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). His bail condition was set at GHC 50 million with two sureties.

Many leading members of the NPP, including former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, described the bail conditions as "very onerous" and questioned how many people in Ghana could meet such conditions.

What we found

Fakenews Ghana has been doing research to determine whether this is the first time a bail condition has been set at GHC 50 million. Our findings show that this is not the first time a constitutional body has granted bail to a citizen with such bail conditions.

In February 2012, a High Court in Accra granted Alfred Agbesi Woyome bail in the sum of GHC 54 million with two sureties. Mr. Woyome was charged with fraud and causing financial loss to the state — charges similar to those currently imposed on Bernard Antwi Boasiako.

The leader of the opposition NPP in parliament at the time, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, described the bail granted Mr. Woyome as "a bit on the downside" and insisted that the bail amount should have been higher.

In a more recent case involving Kwabena Adu Boahen, the former Director General of Ghana Signals Bureau (NSB), his bail was set at GHC 80 million. He was charged with embezzlement totaling approximately GHC 49 million. Initially, his bail was set at GHC 120 million before being reduced to GHC 80 million.

Other notable cases

• Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM1) – Menzgold Case: In July 2019, an Accra High Court granted NAM1 bail to the tune of GHC 1 Billion with five sureties. He was standing trial over allegations of defrauding by false pretence and money laundering involving more than GHC 1.6 Billion.
• William Ato Essien – Capital Bank Case: The founder of defunct Capital Bank was granted bail to the tune of GHC 200 million each alongside two others. Another accused, Kate Quartey Papafio, was also granted bail of GHC 75 million.

How bail conditions are set

Under the current laws of Ghana, the arresting institution (EOCO, CID, BNI etc.) sets the bail amount based on the gravity or seriousness of the case. They are expected to present the accused to court within 48 hours, or grant bail if they fail to do so. If the accused is unable to meet the bail conditions, they can go to court to have the conditions varied.

Verdict

While GHC 50 million is a substantial bail sum, it is not unprecedented in Ghanaian judicial history. Similar and even larger bail amounts have been set in past high-profile cases. We rate this claim MIXED.