Abu Jinapor Slams Wontumi’s Arrest as ‘Totally Wrong’, Cautions Against Political Interference in Justice
Former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako — popularly known as Chairman Wontumi — describing the incident as “totally, totally wrong” and a threat to Ghana’s democratic foundations.
Chairman Wontumi was arrested on May 27, 2025, after being invited by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning over allegations related to illegal mining activities.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, June 4, Jinapor expressed concern over what he sees as a growing trend of using legal processes as political weapons rather than instruments of justice.
“We must ensure that the rule of law prevails. Right is right, wrong is wrong,” Jinapor asserted. “If the law works and people’s rights are protected, it works for all of us. Today you are in government, tomorrow you are not. But if the law truly works, it protects each and every one of us.”
He cautioned against selective justice and political silence, referencing the authoritarian regime of Adolf Hitler to emphasize the long-term dangers of apathy.
“During Hitler’s regime in Germany during the Second World War, they arrested people one by one, and no one spoke out. Eventually, even the silent ones became victims,” he warned.
Jinapor suggested that Wontumi’s arrest was not merely a legal action, but a politically motivated attempt to punish him under the guise of due process.
“Looking at the entire sequence, it clearly seems like a case of ‘let’s teach him a lesson.’ That approach is fundamentally wrong — whether it happened yesterday, last week, or under another administration.”
He also criticised the apparent misuse of bail as a tool for intimidation rather than its intended legal function.
“The decision to grant or deny bail should be based solely on whether the individual will appear before investigators or a court. It must not be used for punishment, political pressure, or intimidation.”
According to Jinapor, the motive behind the arrest raises troubling questions about the independence and integrity of the justice system.
“This idea of punishing someone today and continuing the merry-go-round tomorrow is not how a democracy should function,” he said.
After nearly a week in EOCO custody, Chairman Wontumi was granted bail on June 2, 2025. The bail was set at GH₵50 million with two sureties, one of whom was Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture. The NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, confirmed the bail terms and expressed gratitude to Dr. Acheampong for his support.
Credit: Emmanuel Tetteh
