The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has not relinquished his bid for the party’s national chairmanship despite his conviction and imprisonment, that’s according to Spokesperson for his campaign team, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah.
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah said the team has received no indication that Wontumi has abandoned his ambition to lead the party.
In an interview on TV3 NewsCentral, August 7, he said Chairman Wontumi’s resolve to be the party’s national chairman remains firmly on course.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah disclosed that Wontumi’s final message to him before being taken into custody to serve his jail sentence was for the team to work tirelessly towards returning Dr. Bawumia to the presidency and ensuring his election as the next National Chairman of the NPP.
“We still have a campaign very committed to Chairman Wontumi’s ambition to become the national chairman of the party. We haven’t received any other indication otherwise as well.
“His last words to me on the day that he was sentenced on July 20 was that we should work hard to be able to bring Dr. Bawumia back to power and that we should also work hard to make him the national chairman of the party and that his is going to be okay,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that the campaign team would obtain and file nomination forms on Wontumi’s behalf once the party officially opens nominations.
He added: “We are very confident as his spokesperson that we are going to still stand for the national chairmanship election.”
Dr. Boakye-Danquah stressed that the ultimate decision rests with NPP delegates, who will determine whether Chairman Wontumi should lead the party.
Wontumi’s lawyers have filed a bail application at the High Court pending the determination of his appeal against his 20 years’ imprisonment.
The application, filed by his lawyers, Messrs Zoe, Akyea & Co. on August 6, 2026, argues that Wontumi has already lodged a notice of appeal challenging both his conviction and the 20-year custodial sentence imposed by the High Court.
Chairman Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted over illegal mining activities at Samreboi.
His legal team argues that a bail in his favour will not only enable him work hand-in-hand with his counsel towards his acquittal but also make him available to consult and confer with counsel which is currently being frustrated by his present confinement.
The court document reads: “Take Notice that this Honourable Court will be moved by Counsel for and on behalf of the 1st Appellant/Applicant (“Applicant”) herein praying the Court for an order that the Applicant, who is currently incarcerated at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, be admitted to bail pending appeal upon the grounds stated in the accompanying affidavit and for any further order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem meet.”
