Hajia Safia Mohammed, Deputy National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has strongly condemned what she describes as ongoing political persecution against opposition members. Her comments follow the recent arrest and detention of the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
On May 23, 2025, heavily armed security personnel stormed Chairman Wontumi’s Kumasi residence in an unsuccessful attempt to arrest him. He later turned himself in at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra on May 26, where he was cautioned and granted bail with two sureties. However, upon returning to the CID the next day, he was re-arrested by EOCO and has remained in custody since.
Expressing her dismay, Hajia Safia said she was heartbroken by these developments. “As a mother, a Ghanaian, and someone who believes in the democratic ideals on which our country was founded, I find the treatment of Chairman Wontumi deeply troubling,” she stated.
She questioned the intent behind the arrest, especially the imposition of a GH¢50 million bail with two sureties to be justified. “Is this truly about justice, or are we witnessing the erosion of our democracy through political intimidation?” she asked.
The NPP Deputy Women’s Organiser also expressed disappointment with the current administration, saying many Ghanaians had hoped that former President Mahama’s return to power would usher in unity, peace, and reconciliation. Instead, she noted, the reality appears bleak, with opposition voices being targeted and the boundary between justice and political vendetta becoming increasingly blurred.
“Chairman Wontumi may be outspoken and controversial, but like every Ghanaian, he deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness,” she said. “Justice must be impartial and not wielded as a tool of political convenience. When justice becomes a weapon, the nation suffers. When dissent is punished, public trust in leadership erodes.”
She continued, “This is not the Ghana we want to leave for our children. We need leadership that builds bridges, not walls — leadership that listens, not one that silences opposing views.”
Hajia Safia called on President Mahama and the current administration to rise above partisanship and act with the confidence and integrity of true statesmanship. “Chairman Wontumi deserves a fair process, not a political takedown,” she asserted.
“Let justice be fair, not forceful. Let leadership unite, not divide. Ghana is watching. Mr. President, you may control the police, EOCO, and the CID today, but you do not control the will of the people. And when the people rise, no power can shield you from the judgment of history,” she concluded.
“We demand justice for Chairman Wontumi. We demand an end to political witch-hunting. And we demand that you, President Mahama, lead as a statesman—not a dictator in disguise.”
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