Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) gathered at the residence of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, after an attempted arrest by National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and Ghana Police Service officers on Friday, May 23, 2025. The crowd protested the presence of heavily armed security personnel surrounding the property.
The motive behind the operation remains unclear. Chairman Wontumi assured officers he would respond to their invitation on Monday, May 26, 2025. As tensions escalated, the NIB ordered the withdrawal of officers. A strong contingent of NPP supporters remains present around the residence.
NPP Regional Secretary Kwame Adom-Appiah condemned the operation, saying: “When you are going to arrest someone and arrive with about 20 vehicles, when the person is neither a coup plotter nor has any intention to overthrow the government, I don’t think it is appropriate.”
He added: “Deploying that many cars is not only excessive but also a burden on the state. A simple invitation would have sufficed. And even if he failed to honour it, there are proper, lawful ways to effect an arrest.”
