 popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has picked nomination forms to contest for the party's National Chairmanship, despite currently serving a prison sentence. His campaign team picked up the forms on his behalf, signalling his intention to stay in the race for the top party position. Campaign Team Speaks Ewuradwoa Coleman, Communications Director for the Wontumi campaign, confirmed the move in an interview on August 21, 2026, as reported by joyonline.com. "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," she said. Coleman added that any question over the legality of his candidacy should be left to the appropriate party bodies to determine. "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 stated.){kind=link}
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has picked nomination forms to contest for the party’s National Chairmanship, despite currently serving a prison sentence.
His campaign team picked up the forms on his behalf, signalling his intention to stay in the race for the top party position.
Campaign Team Speaks
Ewuradwoa Coleman, Communications Director for the Wontumi campaign, confirmed the move in an interview on August 21, 2026, as reported by joyonline.com.
“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,” she said.
Coleman added that any question over the legality of his candidacy should be left to the appropriate party bodies to determine.
“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 stated.
Background to the Conviction
Chairman Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year jail term following his conviction by an Accra High Court over illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the case, convicted him on charges including assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and knowingly facilitating unlicensed mining operations.
Although he was convicted on multiple counts, the sentences are running concurrently, bringing his effective jail term to 20 years.
The court additionally slapped him with a GH¢120,000 fine, with a three-year default sentence should he fail to pay. This default term will also run alongside the 20-year sentence.
Appeal and Bail Application
Wontumi has not accepted the court’s decision and is contesting both his conviction and the sentence handed down.
His legal team has since filed a bail application, seeking his release while the courts hear and determine his appeal.