The spokesperson for former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, says his imprisonment will not prevent him from pursuing his ambition to become the party’s National Chairman.
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Dankwah said supporters of the NPP stalwart are preparing to obtain and file nomination forms on his behalf, despite questions surrounding his eligibility under the party’s constitution.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Wednesday, August 19, he said the forms would be picked up before the end of the week as Wontumi remains committed to the contest.
“Chairman Wontumi is a politician. His friends believe in his ambition, and they are going to make sure that his form will be picked, submitted and filed,” he said.
Dr Boakye-Dankwah argued that there was no legal restriction preventing Wontumi or his supporters from initiating the nomination process.
He said the decision by the supporters was based on their belief that Wontumi’s imprisonment should not be used to prevent him from participating in the party’s internal elections.
“I’m certain that the friends of Chairman Wontumi premised their decision to pick up a form for him purely based on the party’s position on the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi, considering him as a political prisoner,” he said.
His comments come amid debate over provisions of the NPP constitution concerning members who have been convicted and sentenced for certain offences.
The spokesperson, however, said Wontumi’s team would proceed with the nomination process and address any objections or challenges that may emerge.
He disclosed that the nomination forms were expected to be collected on Friday and subsequently taken to Wontumi for his signature before being filed.
Dr Boakye-Dankwah also rejected calls for Wontumi to suspend his political ambitions and concentrate solely on his legal case.
He said the former Ashanti Regional Chairman had already made significant progress in his campaign before his incarceration, having toured all 16 regions and the 276 constituencies.
“Chairman was one of the first persons who stepped into the competition. He’s done his first round of the campaign already,” he said.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years in prison over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, sitting at the Criminal Division of the High Court, handed down the sentence on Monday, July 20, 2026.
The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000, with an additional three-year prison term in default of payment.
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