Officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) have reportedly raided the Tema residence of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The reported operation took place on Monday, November 9, 2026, when five EOCO officers allegedly entered and searched the property while Wontumi’s children were inside the house.
The incident was disclosed by Wontumi’s spokesperson, Palgrave Boakye Danquah, during an interview on Eyewitness News on Monday.
According to Danquah, he received a telephone call from the family at approximately 3:00 p.m. informing him that security personnel had arrived at the residence.
He explained that Wontumi’s mother-in-law, who was at the house looking after the children, initially approached the entrance after being informed about the officers’ presence.
She subsequently allowed the officers into the compound after they requested permission to enter.
EOCO Officers Allegedly Searched Wontumi’s House
Danquah alleged that after gaining access to the property, the officers moved around the compound before entering the main house and proceeding upstairs, where Wontumi’s children were staying.
He claimed that the unexpected presence of the officers frightened the children, who reportedly started crying during the operation.
The spokesperson further alleged that the officers took photographs and recorded videos while searching the property.
According to him, the children’s grandmother became concerned about the recording and asked the officers not to take pictures or videos of her and the children.
Danquah estimated that the officers spent between 30 and 45 minutes at the residence before leaving.
He also disclosed that the grandmother managed to take photographs of an identification card presented by one of the officers during the operation.
Wontumi’s Spokesperson Questions EOCO Search Authorisation
The spokesperson identified one of the officers as an individual named Nortey, who allegedly arrived at the residence with four other officers.
He claimed that the personnel were dressed in civilian clothes and informed the family that they had received direct instructions to visit the property.
Danquah said he had subsequently contacted Wontumi’s lead lawyer, Atta Akyea, to inform him about the reported search.
According to the spokesperson, the lawyer was engaging the Attorney-General to establish the reasons behind the officers’ visit and determine the legal authority under which the operation was conducted.
He also referred to ongoing legal proceedings involving EOCO and Chairman Wontumi, explaining that the investigative agency had previously served documents on the former NPP regional chairman’s legal team in connection with efforts to confiscate some of his properties.
However, Danquah questioned whether the documents previously received by the legal team authorised EOCO officers to search Wontumi’s Tema residence.
He maintained that his understanding of the documents was that they did not yet grant such permission.
“I’ve read through the document. It doesn’t authorise them yet,” he stated during the interview.
EOCO Yet to Explain Reported Search at Wontumi’s Residence
As of the time of the interview, the Economic and Organised Crime Office had not publicly provided an official explanation regarding the reported operation at Chairman Wontumi’s residence.
The specific reason for the search, the legal authority relied upon by the officers and whether any documents or other items were taken from the property remain unclear.
The reported incident comes amid ongoing investigations involving the former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman over suspected financial and economic crimes.
The development has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the operation, particularly the concerns expressed by Wontumi’s spokesperson regarding the search authorisation and the presence of children at the residence.
Further clarification from EOCO is expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the reported operation.
Source: newsthemegh.com