About GH¢50m in Wontumi’s accounts frozen – Kwakye Ofosu discloses

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has disclosed that nearly ¢50 million belonging to Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been frozen as part of ongoing investigations into suspected financial crimes.

Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews on Tuesday, the Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese said the action was taken by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as authorities move to secure funds believed to be linked to ongoing investigations.

According to him, the amount frozen from accounts connected to the New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman forms part of a broader effort to trace and secure assets suspected to be tied to corruption and financial misconduct.

“For instance, in Chairman Wontumi’s case alone, close to ¢50 million of money in his account has been frozen,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stated during the interview.

He added that similar sums have been identified in other high-profile investigations currently being handled by state authorities. These include cases involving former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, as well as matters linked to the National Service Authority Ghost names scandal.

“Similar figures are involved in the former Signals Bureau boss, Adu Boahen, case, for instance, in the National Service case and many others.”

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that the freezing of the accounts is a precautionary measure intended to preserve suspected assets while investigations and legal processes continue.

He noted that authorities have so far secured assets amounting to about ¢1.5 billion through similar actions.

However, he emphasised that the state cannot recover such assets outright unless a court determines that the money was obtained illegally.

“They are not going to be able to recover the money until the persons involved have been convicted by a court, which would then give the legal mandate to recover whatever the court finds to have been stolen,” he said.

The government spokesperson maintained that the measures are part of efforts by the state to ensure accountability and safeguard public resources while due process is followed through the courts.