Chairman Wontumi's Campaign Team Picks NPP Chairmanship Forms Despite His 20-Year Jail Term

• Convicted NPP figure Chairman Wontumi had nomination forms picked on his behalf for the party's National Chairmanship race
• His campaign team argued that imprisonment should not automatically end Wontumi's political ambitions within the NPP
• Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year sentence for offences linked to illegal mining at the Samreboi concession

The campaign team of convicted former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has collected nomination forms on his behalf for the party's National Chairmanship contest, despite him currently being held in prison.

Chairman Wontumi campaign team defends decision

Ewuradwoa Coleman, Communications Director of Wontumi's campaign team, confirmed the development in an interview on 21 August 2026, saying the decision was rooted in a belief that their candidate deserves access to the party's internal processes.

"Yes, indeed, the campaign team has picked up forms on behalf of Chairman Wontumi. We believe that Chairman Wontumi should be able to have the opportunity to go through the party's established processes," Coleman told journalists.

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She acknowledged that questions of eligibility may arise but indicated that such matters should be settled through the appropriate channels rather than assumed. "If there is a legal or constitutional impediment to his candidacy, we believe that the appropriate party authority or competent body would determine that in accordance with the rules. But politically, we believe that his incarceration should not automatically be equated with the end of his political ambitions," she added.

Chairman Wontumi's conviction and sentence

An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay found Boasiako guilty of multiple offences connected to illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The charges included assigning mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and deliberately facilitating unlicensed mining operations.

The sentences handed down across the separate counts are running concurrently, giving Boasiako an effective custodial term of 20 years.

The court additionally imposed a fine of GH¢120,000, with a three-year default prison sentence attached should the fine go unpaid. That default term is similarly set to run concurrently with the 20-year sentence.

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Boasiako has since moved to challenge both his conviction and the length of his sentence. His legal team has filed an application seeking bail pending the outcome of his appeal.

Chairman Wontumi supporters to hold candlelight vigil

Earlier, YEN.com.gh wrote about according to reports, NPP supporters in the Ashanti Region who Chairman Wontumi's candlelight vigil.

The event was planned for Friday, August 14, 2026.

It was anticipated that the vigil would be a demonstration of unity and support for the NPP regional chairman.

Source: YEN.com.gh