Abigail Elorm Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), has revealed that three government vehicles have been retrieved from the residence of Chairman Wontumi.
The MASLOC CEO disclosed that the Centre, with support from National Security operatives, retrieved the three cars, with two yet to be recovered.
According to the MASLOC CEO, the initiative is part of efforts to recover government loans and vehicles from defaulters.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on September 10, Abigail Elorm Mensah stated, “I have gone with National Security operatives to the house of the Chairman of the NPP in Ashanti Region, Chairman Wontumi.
Three cars. In fact, the cars were five. We’ve retrieved three. I have collected all from his house. We are still chasing him for the two. He has to pay for them”.
“What we do is that once I seize the cars, the agreement we have with you is that you would have to repay whatever has accrued, and we release the cars to you,” she said.
MASLOC CEO added, “We’ve reported a lot of the issues to the police,” she confirmed.
She further revealed an incident involving a relative of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who allegedly refused to return a government Nissan Urvan.
“I have a situation where a brother of former Vice President Seidu Imoro picks a car and he is bold to tell us that ‘well, he has used the car to work and he’s bought his own, so if we want we could come for it.’ So we’ve seized it,” she added.
In related news, Chairman Wontumi has recounted his time in EOCO custody.
Chairman Wontumi, speaking to a group of NPP supporters in Adansi Asokwa, stated that he nearly died in EOCO custody.
According to Chaiman Wontumi, he was kept in a tight room and began to see his dead relatives.
Speaking during Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s visit to Adansi Asokwa, Chairman Wontumi stated, “When they arrested me, I was sent to a small room. If you look at the place Chairman Wontumi I was sleeping at, I nearly died; if not for God, I would have died. Everyone knows when they are about to die.
When you are about to die, you will see your dead family members, which means you are about to die. So, when I started seeing them, I knew I was about to die. I saw myself dying because of where I was kept”.
He added, “That was the reason why I called for Ghanaians to rise up, that it is because of Ghanaians that I am being treated this way”.
It will be recalled that Wontumi was arrested by EOCO following a visit to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters on Tuesday, May 27, shortly after leaving the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra.
Justice Srem-Sai later revealed that Wontumi is also being investigated for an International organised crime scheme.
The Deputy Attorney General noted that EOCO is assiduously working with our international law enforcement partners on the second strand of criminal investigations.
According to Justice Srem-Sai, the ongoing investigation is being handled by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), with asset recovery efforts already underway to secure suspected proceeds of crime.
Chairman Wontumi was released from EOCO custody on June 2, after meeting his bail GHS50 million conditions.
Bryan Acheampong helped secure Wontumi’s release after he presented the necessary documents to meet the GH₵50 million bail requirement.
Chairman Wontumi expressed his profound gratitude, likening his situation to the 10 people cured of leprosy with just one returning to thank Jesus.
Meanwhile, Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, has announced that the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, will be charged.
The Attorney General revealed that Chairman Wontumi will be charged and arraigned in the coming days.
According to Dominic Ayine, the Police CID has finalised charges against him in the mining case.
The Attorney General speaking at the Government Accountability Forum on Monday, 28th July, stated, “Wontumi to be formally charged and arraigned in the coming days, as Police CID have finalised charges against him in the mining case”.