Law lecturer at the UPSA and legal practitioner, Justice Abdulai, has cast a shadow on the chances of convict Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, contesting for the chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Wontumi, a former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment over various offences relating to illegal mining.
His spokesperson, Dr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah, disclosed in an interview on TV3’s Ghana Tonight on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, that Wontumi’s camp is going to pick a form for him and file for his candidacy, pending his appeal.
But reacting to the development, Mr. Abdulai noted that things are not too bright for Wontumi, considering the fact that he is in prison and his appeal is still pending.
According to him, the situation would have been different if the said elections were to be held in 2030 or thereafter.
He argued that the bid faces two major legal hurdles, which are the NPP’s own constitution and the 1992 Constitution.
“If you look at the letter of the party’s constitution and its premise being the 1992 constitution, even if the party was to surrender the qualification criteria in the party’s constitution in favour of Chairman Wontumi, there will still be that second hurdle of the 1992 Constitution that has to be also surmounted,” he stated.
Mr. Abdulai explained that even if the party decides to bend its rules “in favour of Chairman Wontumi,” it cannot override the national constitution.
He described Palgrave’s position as one “based on belief not based on the provisions in the constitution or even in the party’s constitution.”
On timing, he said a later contest would have made more sense looking at the pending petition.
“If he was contesting in let’s say 2030 or thereafter, the hopes would have been higher, considering that there is pending appeal which could go either way,” he noted.
He added that “chances are that if it goes in his favour, then the way would be paved for him to contest the election. But as things stand now, it’s too bleak, too dark for Chairman Wontumi to successfully contest, not to think of all other hurdles.”
