Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has revealed that nearly GH¢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 JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, the Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese explained that the action was taken by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as part of efforts to secure funds believed to be connected to the investigations.
According to him, the money was traced to accounts linked to the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman and has been temporarily frozen while authorities continue to examine possible financial misconduct.
“For instance, in Chairman Wontumi’s case alone, close to GH¢50 million in his account has been frozen,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said during the interview.
He noted that the Wontumi case is not the only high-profile investigation currently underway. Similar financial figures, he said, have been identified in other cases being handled by state authorities, including investigations involving former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene and the National Service Authority ghost names scandal.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that freezing such accounts is a precautionary step meant to prevent the movement of suspected assets while investigations and legal processes continue.
He further disclosed that through similar actions, authorities have so far secured assets estimated at about GH¢1.5 billion.
However, he stressed that the state cannot immediately take possession of the funds unless a court determines that the money was illegally acquired.
“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 explained.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu maintained that the measures form part of broader efforts by the government to promote accountability and protect public resources while allowing the legal process to take its full course.
