The Spokesperson for Chairman Wontumi, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah has condemned the Economic and Organiased Crime Office’s (EOCO) visit to the former Ashanti Regional Chairman’s residence, claiming that the operation left his children and their grandmother emotionally traumatised.
Dr Boakye-Danquah contends that EOCO’s exercise, which the office has linked to a property evaluation, was conducted without “sufficient regard for the vulnerable family members at home.” He further considers the timing “insensitive, as the family is mourning the Chairman’s sister” whose burial is scheduled for Saturday.
“I spent about 3 hours with the family this evening. They were extremely traumatized. I prayed with them, I read the scriptures with them, I encouraged them that everything is fortified and that God above is with them and with us all.”
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah
Recounting his visit, the spokesperson explained that the children’s grandmother initially struggled to speak when he arrived. According to him, she sat silently for about an hour and a half before recounting the incident, an experience he termed as evidence of the distress caused.
He identified the children’s sense of insecurity as a pressing concern, claiming they have become unsettled by repeated knocks on the door and unfamiliar visitors. The children, he noted, were aged 11, 14 and 15, and should not have to contend with anxiety surrounding an investigation involving their father.
Although Dr Boakye-Danquah acknowledged that no property has been damaged and no family member suffered physical injury, he insisted that the emotional consequences were substantial.
The spokesperson questioned the decision to enter the inner sections of the residence, including areas near the children’s rooms. He argues that officials undertaking an assessment should have considered who was present, particularly given the family’s bereavement.
Dr Boakye-Danquah acknowledged that the office has a responsibility to perform its duties, but insisted that the presence of children and their grandmother require greater sensitivity.
Consequently, he called on the state to ensure the family’s safety, expressing the view that the visits has left the occupants uncertain about their security at home.
Spokesperson Disputes EOCO’s Account of Residence Visit
Meanwhile, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah also questioned the manner in which the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) conducted its visit to Chairman Wontumi’s residence, challenging the office’s account and its inability to coordinate with the family’s lawyers.
He raised the issues after visiting and speaking with the children’s grandmother, whose account, he claims, differs from EOCO’s.
“Grandma told me that they spent 45 minutes, 45 minutes. She was clear on her time. When she called me at 3:00, she told me they had spent 45 minutes. It’s not 10 minutes.”
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah
Furthermore, he questioned the handling of a child’s recording device. According to the spokesperson, Chairman Wontumi’s daughter told him that officials took her iPad and deleted videos she recorded during the visit. He questioned why the recordings would be removed if the operation had been conducted appropriately.
However, Dr Boakye-Danquah declined to explain how he obtained the video he shared publicly, describing the source as a security matter he would not disclose. He clarified that he was not alleging armed men had entered the property.
The spokesperson added that EOCO should have notified Chairman Wontumi’s legal counsel before entering the property. He claimed the lawyers were unaware of the visit and argues that prior communication would have allowed them to liaise with officials.“I’m not about to teach EOCO the job that they have to do,” he commented, while insisting that the office must consider those affected.
Dr Boakye-Danquah acknowledged EOCO’s mandate, but argues that its operations should account for the family’s welfare. He also questioned the property evaluation while the related case still remains before a court.
In its statement, The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has clarified that its visit to Chairman Wontumi’s Tema residence on November 9, 2026, was for property valuation, not a raid. EOCO said officials went to obtain “coordinates and measurements” for a “professional valuation.” EOCO emphasised that the visit followed a court-confirmed property freeze in 2025 and urged the public to “disregard false publications” circulating in the media.
The visit is as a result of Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako’s legal battles. He is appealing a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction for illegal mining at Samreboi and is also facing a separate trial over an alleged fraudulent Ghana EXIM Bank transaction in 2018.
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