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Peacefmonline.com can confirm that Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, will spend Tuesday night in police custody after the Ashanti Region Regional Police Command decided to detain him following a case of assault lodged against him. 

According to HelloFM's Senior Reporter, Sampson Kwame Nyamekye, Chairman Wontumi as the NPP Chair is affectionately called, is being held overnight but will likely be hauled before court on Wednesday as police seem set to call the bluff of a massive throng of party supporters demanding his release.

In a report filed during PeaceFM News @6pm, he said reliable police sources have hinted to him that the beleaguered Chairman is likely to be charged on two counts; assault of a public officer - sitting Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Hon Collins Owusu Amankwa - and the constituency secretary, Felix Ibrahim; and conspiracy to commit assault.

But Lawyer Adom Appiah, counsel for the NPP Ashanti Regional Chair, is fuming with rage.

“…my client has not been formally charged as it is in the public domain. This is because i have not come across any charge statement against him, since I am the first person to get this information before any other third party,” he ranted in an interview with Peace News.

He however added that he is “very much worried” that his client cannot be bailed today (Tuesday) even though the offence Chairman Wontumi allegedly committed, is not one to keep him locked up in police cells.

Chairman Wontumi was declared wanted and an arrest warrant subsequently issued by the Police following his (Wontumi's) alleged refusal to honour an invitation extended to him to assist in investigations after a complaint was lodged against him by the NPP Constituency Secretary and the Manhyia North MP, who has been described as a traitor by some members of his own party.

The duo had complained of being assaulted by Chairman Wontumi on Sunday, May 1, 2016 when they were observing the Limited Voter Registration exercise at a registration center named Nana Fodjour House in Krofrom in Kumasi.

Hours after the police declaration, Chairman ‘Wontumi’ personally reported himself to the men and women in black uniform and indicated in a statement which was copied to Peacefmonline.com that “The only time I heard, the police was looking for me was when UTV called to interview me. I reported myself to the Regional Police command at Kumasi exactly 10:42am today to write my statement. Though I am still at the station, there is no cause for alarm now.”

Attempts by party stalwarts in the region, including founding members and MPs to have the Chairman released have proved futile.

Meanwhile, scores of supporters are massing up and demanding the police let him go. Though a combined team of armed police and military officers have barricaded the entrance to the police station with armoured vehicles, the supporters whose numbers are increasing by the minute, appear undaunted; and are busily chanting slogans.