(In Ghana) Police and National Security Surround NPP’s Wontumi’s Kumasi Home, Sparking Tensions In The Country

 

Chairman Wontumi is capturing widespread attention in Ghana as a combined team of police officers and National Security Service operatives surrounded the residence of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in Kumasi on May 23, 2025. According to Wontumi’s aide, Oheneba Nana Asiedu, approximately 23 heavily armed personnel arrived at the politician’s Paraku Estate home around 9:00 a.m., demanding access to the locked premises. The reasons for the operation remain unclear, though speculation points to Wontumi’s recent controversies, including the suspension of his company Akonta Mining’s license for alleged illegal activities. The raid prompted a tense standoff, with NPP supporters gathering to protest, leading to the withdrawal of security forces by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). Wontumi, who was reportedly inside, assured authorities he would respond to their invitation on May 26. His lawyer, Kwame Adom-Appiah, criticized the operation as excessive, fueling debates about political targeting, especially given Wontumi’s bid for NPP National Chairman.

Chairman Wotumi's aide further confirmed that the politician, his wife and domestic help, had been inside the building when the operatives arrived. The invasion of Chairman Wotumi's residence, occurred a few hours after the abduction-style arrest of NPP activist Alfred Ababio Kumi, better known as Adenta Kumi.

See also: Ghana’s Visa Reform Debate: Ablakwa Defends New Policy