The spokesperson for Chairman Wontumi’s campaign for the National Chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has insisted that the incarceration of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako will not prevent him from pursuing his ambition to lead the party.
Speaking in an interview on Ghana Tonight on TV3 on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, Dr Boakye-Danquah said the campaign team remained committed to Wontumi’s bid and would take the necessary steps to ensure he is able to participate in the party’s upcoming national executive elections. He disclosed that the team intends to obtain nomination forms on Wontumi’s behalf and personally take them to him in prison for completion.
“We will pick forms for Wontumi. We will take them to him in prison to complete and compete for the position,” he said. “When Chairman Wontumi was jailed, the party’s General Secretary held a press conference and announced that Chairman Wontumi is a political prisoner. That is the position of the party on this issue.”
The declaration comes amid questions over whether Wontumi can legally or constitutionally contest a leadership position within the NPP while serving a prison sentence. Wontumi, the former Ashanti Regional Chairman, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by the Accra High Court on 20 July 2026, after Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay convicted him on six counts relating to illegal mining activities on the Akonta Mining concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
He is also seeking the National Chairmanship against several prominent contenders, including former General Secretary John Boadu, former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and former National Chairman Paul Afoko.
Dr Boakye-Danquah further argued that even if Wontumi is elected while still in prison, his incarceration would not necessarily prevent him from performing the functions of the office.
“The national executive is made up of other members, vice chairmen and others. Nsawam Prison is only about sixty minutes away; they can discuss issues when they visit him,” he said.
Source:Fiilafmonline/3News
