A former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has slammed the courts for imposing what he believes are ‘high’ bail conditions on the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako.
According to him, the courts are not being discerning, and he criticised them for allegedly acting in favour of the government to pursue its own agenda.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 on October 9, 2025, Ansa-Asare acknowledged that the Wontumi case is politically motivated.
He stressed that in such cases, the courts must act impartially to enforce the law, rather than promote any political agenda.
“… The courts are not discerning enough. The Wontumi case seems to be politically motivated. And in politically motivated prosecution, the court, must be the body that will hold the scales evenly.
“Therefore, where a court in a politically motivated persecution imposes those conditions that appear to be too burdensome or onerous, it will become harsh and oppressive and make nonsense of the issue as to whether or not Wontumi will appear on the hearing date to stand his trial,” he stated.
Ansa-Asare questioned the rationale behind the GH¢15 million bail condition imposed on Wontumi, arguing that he has demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the ongoing investigation and, therefore, the bail amount should not have been so excessive.
“If he has shown any signs of running away from the country or refusing to cooperate, then the court can exact the GH¢15 million bail condition. But this is a citizen, an ordinary citizen of Ghana, who has expressed the willingness and readiness to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, and is ready to appear to stand his trial. So, I think that the GH¢15 million bail condition cost is too steep. It becomes too high and too oppressive,” he argued.
He added that bail conditions are not meant to be used to punish individuals by a government in power; however, he raised concerns about the stark contrast in the country, where courts are instead used to further a political agenda.
“The bail conditions are intended to prevent, you know, a government in power from punishing political opponents but here, we rather use the courts, take their arms to do the bidding for the government in power. And this is what must stop,” he said.
His comments follow the bail conditions imposed on Wontumi, totaling GH¢25 million from two separate cases.
Wontumi has been charged with criminal offences, including engaging in mining without a license and the felling of trees in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, among others.
