The spokesperson for New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart 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 former Ashanti Regional Chairman are expected to pick up nomination forms on his behalf before the end of the week, despite concerns about his eligibility under the NPP’s constitution.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Wednesday, August 19, he said Chairman Wontumi remains committed to the contest and intends to proceed with the nomination process while serving his prison sentence.
“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 is no legal impediment preventing Wontumi or his representatives from picking up and filing the nomination forms.
He said supporters seeking to obtain the forms for him consider him a political prisoner and believe he should be given the opportunity to contest the election.
The comments come amid debate over provisions in the NPP’s constitution that restrict members who have been convicted and sentenced for certain offences from contesting party positions.
Dr Boakye-Dankwah, however, maintained that Wontumi’s campaign team would continue with the nomination process and address any challenges that may arise at a later stage.
He disclosed that the nomination forms are expected to be picked up on Friday and subsequently taken to Chairman Wontumi for his signature before being submitted.
The spokesperson also rejected suggestions that Wontumi should concentrate solely on his legal case instead of pursuing the party’s national chairmanship.
According to him, Wontumi had already made significant progress in his campaign before his imprisonment, having toured all 16 regions and 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 is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction 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 a default sentence of three years’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
