Andy Appiah-Kubi, lead counsel for embattled New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has dismissed claims by some party members that he was lenient in handling his client’s legal battle with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Friday, July 4, Mr. Appiah-Kubi stressed that his approach to the case was strictly guided by legal principles, not emotions or political pressure.
“I was faced with a lot of criticisms as to what I should have done, what I didn’t do and things like that. But you know that I carried my head and I said that I want to practice the law the way I understand it to the benefit of my client. And therefore, I wasn’t going to listen to people who were just flying criticisms and accusations and again, politics into it,” he said.
The lawyer, who is also the former Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, explained that he deliberately refused to mix politics with his legal work, despite pressure from within the party.
“And I have always warned that as a lawyer, you only need to carry the legal cap, not legal and political cap mixed together on one head. That brings confusion. So in my practice, if I’m practicing law, I want to only wear the legal cap and be a professional lawyer rather than a political lawyer. So I didn’t listen to anybody at all,” he added.
Chairman Wontumi has been under investigation by EOCO for alleged financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state. The Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai, also revealed that Wontumi is linked to a broader international organised crime investigation.
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Wontumi was arrested on May 27, 2025, and granted GH₵50 million bail with two justified sureties a day later.
However, meeting the bail conditions proved challenging, prolonging his stay in EOCO custody.
Some within the NPP accused Appiah-Kubi of being “soft” on EOCO and failing to challenge what they described as politically motivated tactics to frustrate Wontumi’s release.
In response, the lawyer insisted that his priority was ensuring his client’s legal rights were respected through due process, rather than resorting to populist or confrontational tactics.
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After weeks of legal maneuvering, Wontumi was eventually released after meeting all bail requirements. EOCO’s investigations into the case, however, are still ongoing.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
