Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi has expressed deep concern over the GHC50 million bail condition placed on Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, describing the amount as exorbitant, extraordinary, and fundamentally unfair, even if the charges included murder.
Addressing the situation in detail, Dr. Adomako Kissi argued that although the government has the authority to determine bail terms for suspects, the scale of the requirement in this case sends worrying signals about the fairness and accessibility of justice in Ghana.
“Government has a right to arrange bail for people – and most or all offenses in this country are literally bailable. I think, even murder, if you are a suspect. So the key thing here is that it should be reasonable”
Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, Anyaa Sowutuom Former MP
According to Dr. Adomako Kissi, Wontumi does not pose a flight risk and is a well-known figure within Ghana’s political space. He emphasized that familiarity with the suspect should count significantly in determining whether he would comply with court proceedings.
“This isn’t somebody who’s not known, who doesn’t have property, Wontumi has been one of the figures that I think anybody who’s in politics either has seen.
“He’s not a figure in this country that people do not know and for that matter, if you are needing assurance that he would come to court or stay true to the dictates of court proceedings, I think we were a bit exorbitant, demanding 50,000,000 Ghana cedis, which I think now is well over $4,000,000”
Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, Anyaa Sowutuom Former MP
Dr. Adomako Kissi questioned the rationale behind such a high bail amount, noting that the underlying legal principles behind bail should focus on ensuring the suspect’s availability for trial, not punishment prior to conviction.
He hinted that further scrutiny of the allegations against Wontumi, including international fraud claims, may be appropriate in time. However, he emphasized that at the current stage of proceedings, fairness in bail is paramount.
“The financial management act will be one key document that I think would guide us or the court in terms of how they proceed on this,” he added. He reiterated that the purpose of bail is to ensure court compliance and not to serve as a financial barrier.
He expressed deep concern for the “ordinary citizen” who may one-day be subjected to his kind of treatment. He explained that the law is there to also protect the vulnerable people in the community and not persecute them. Dr. Adomako Kissi posed a rhetorical question about precedent and its implications.
“I mean if you’re meting out this to Wontumi, who’s the next person? My concern is not with which law any of the security agencies broke or not, I said that the bail quantum is excessive. It’s excessive”
Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, Anyaa Sowutuom Former MP
He suggested that this perceived injustice was part of the root cause of the recent street demonstrations and protests by NPP party supporters outside the EOCO headquarters where Chairman Wontumi is being held.
From the perspective of his political party, the GHC50 million bail requirement – amounting to over four million dollars – is entirely out of line with principles of fairness and accessibility.
“That is excessive and we have every right to make that statement known loud and clear. Forgive us if that is a problem but this is one key way of making it known that, for whatever crimes he committed, even if it was murder, 50,000,000 Ghana cedis, is huge”
Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, Anyaa Sowutuom Former MP
Closing his statement with a personal reflection, Dr. Adomako Kissi underscored the burden that such a requirement imposes.
“In fact, let me say that I haven’t seen 5,000,000, let alone 50,000,000 Ghana cedis all in a day. and mind you, this is supposed to be provided within a very short period, and it is unfair”
Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, Anyaa Sowutuom Former MP
As public discourse over the case unfolds, attention remains fixed on the balance between justice and fairness.
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