Ghanaian media personality Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa, popularly known as Afia Schwarzenegger, has ignited a political storm by alleging that New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Kennedy Agyapong was behind the arrest of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The claim, made via a viral Instagram video, has intensified tensions within the NPP, with Schwarzenegger mocking Wontumi’s detention while praising President John Mahama’s administration for “resetting” the political landscape.
What’s the difference between ‘cheap’ and ‘useless’?- Afia Schwar mocks Ken Agyapong
Wontumi was detained by EOCO on May 27, 2025, shortly after leaving the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra, where he was questioned over alleged illegal mining and water pollution. The EOCO probe also reportedly involves a $55 million fraud linked to Wontumi’s Akonta Mining company and dealings with EXIM Bank. The arrest followed a raid on Wontumi’s Kumasi residence on May 23, which he claimed was an attempt to frame him.
Schwarzenegger’s video, in which she feigned tears while celebrating Wontumi’s legal troubles, referenced a post by X user @NanaBa_Offixial, who claimed Agyapong’s campaign manager, Felix Tetteh, orchestrated the arrest due to Wontumi’s support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the NPP flagbearer race.
The controversy has exposed rifts within the NPP, with supporters, including General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong and former MP Titus Glover, storming EOCO to demand Wontumi’s release. Glover criticized the “capricious” arrest and EOCO’s lack of transparency, especially after Wontumi’s reported collapse during interrogation, which led to his hospitalization. Lawyer Clement Opoku Gyamfi called the arrest a “setup,” echoing Wontumi’s claims of political persecution by the NDC government.
Schwarzenegger, leveraging her platform, urged Ghanaians, particularly the youth, not to be swayed by politicians exploiting them for personal gain. “Don’t let politicians use you,” she said, citing past instances where supporters were paid as little as 100-200 GHS for loyalty. She emphasized the need for self-respect and long-term thinking, warning against blind allegiance to political figures.
