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 New Patriotic Party (NPP), including former vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia have described the bail conditions as “very onerous” and questioned how many people in Ghana could meet such conditions [Watch Video Here]. There have also been widespread opinions on his bail conditions [Like this and This].
Fakenews Ghana has been doing some 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 this factsheet & analysis, Fakenews Ghana throws more light on a higher bail condition an Accra Fast Track High Court imposed on Alfred Agbesi Woyome and Kwabena Adu Boahen.
In February, 2012, a High Court in Accra granted the embattled businessman and a financier of NDC (alleged), Alfred Agbesi Woyome, bail in the sum of GHC 54 million with two sureties.[Check story HERE].
Mr. Woyome was charged with fraud, as well as causing financial loss to the state, charges similar to those currently imposed on Bernard Antwi Boasiako.
The leader of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) in parliament at the time, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has described the bail granted Mr. Woyome as a bit on the downside and insisted that the bail amount should have been higher. [story Here]
‘It’s a bit on the downside giving the amount and charges involved, and if you should calculated the interest, on my own thinking, it should be a higher figure’, he insisted.
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. In March 2025, he was arrested upon his return from London. He was charged with embezzlement totaling approximately GHC 49 million. Initially, his bail was set at GHC 120 million. However, following a petition by his legal team led by Samuel Atta Akyea, the Accra High Court reviewed and reduced his bail condition to GHC 80 million, with two sureties. [See story HERE]
Other Notable Cases
Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM1) – Menzgold Case
On July 26, 2019, an Accra High Court granted Nana Appiah Mensah (popularly known as NAM 1) bail to the tune of GHC 1 Billion with five sureties [Story Here]. 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
William Ato Essien, founder of defunct Capital Bank was arrested for his role that led to the collapse of the Bank. Justice Kyei Baffour granted him and two others bail to the tune of GHC 200 million each. [Read story HERE]. Another accused, Kate Quartey Papafio was also granted bail to the tune of GHC 75 million.
How bail conditions are set
To understand how bail amounts are set or calculated, Fakenews Ghana spoke with two lawyers. It was established that under the current laws of Ghana, the arresting institution (EOCO, CID, BNI etc) set the bail amount (and other conditions) based on the gravity or seriousness of the case (or offences) under review. They are also expected to present the accused to court within 48 hours, or grant bail (provided the bail conditions are met) if they fail to present the accused to court. If the accused is unable to meet the bail conditions, they are expected to go to court to vary the bail conditions. [Check this link for more information]
Who is a surety?
A surety is a person (or sometimes an entity) who guarantees that the accused person will comply with the conditions of their bail — especially that they will appear in court when required. In other words, a surety acts like a guarantor. If the accused fails to show up or breaches bail conditions, the surety may be required to pay a specified amount of money to the court. [See more HERE]
