The Member of Parliament for Nalerigu/Gambaga, Nurudeen Mohammed Mumuni, has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he describes as a worrying erosion of democratic norms, following the arrest and continued detention of New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Wontumi was arrested on Tuesday, May 27, by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and subsequently picked up by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over alleged financial malfeasance involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).

Although EOCO granted him bail of GHS50 million with two justified sureties, his legal team has so far been unable to meet the conditions, resulting in his continued detention.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Thursday, May 29, Nurudeen Mumuni expressed grave concerns about the legality and broader implications of the ongoing situation, stating that the failure to release Wontumi within the constitutionally mandated 48-hour window sets a troubling precedent.

“We all know that it is past 48 hours, and I believe this is dangerous to our democracy, and they are setting a very bad precedent in this country,” he said.

Mumuni warned that if such actions by the NDC are left unchecked, it could lead to a cycle of political retribution that would harm Ghana’s democratic institutions.

“If tomorrow NPP takes over the leadership of this country, should we also run after NDC businessmen? That will be wrong,” he added.

The MP further urged state institutions, particularly investigative and prosecutorial bodies like EOCO, to maintain independence and professionalism in their operations, cautioning against the weaponisation of legal processes for political gain.