Wontumi quits NPP chairmanship race to focus on 20-year jail term

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the race for the National Chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), saying his current circumstances must not become an additional burden on the party.

The decision comes as Wontumi remains in prison following his conviction and 20-year sentence in an illegal mining-related case.

Wontumi was sentenced on July 20, 2026, after the court found him guilty of offences including assigning mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The two 20-year custodial sentences imposed on him are running concurrently.

His legal team has appealed the conviction and sentence and subsequently applied for bail pending the appeal. The bail application has been adjourned to October 15, 2026.

Despite the legal challenges and his incarceration, Wontumi’s campaign team picked nomination forms on his behalf on August 21 for the NPP national chairmanship contest.

In a statement dated August 24, 2026, Wontumi said he arrived at the decision after several nights of reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters.

“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden,” he said.

“Today, I find myself at such a painful moment.”

Wontumi said his decision was not one he had wished to make but had become necessary because of his circumstances and his commitment to the NPP.

“After many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with my family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, I have come to the difficult conclusion that my present circumstances must not become an additional burden on the New Patriotic Party,” he stated.

“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more.”

The former Ashanti Regional Chairman said his relationship with the NPP went beyond politics, describing the party as his family, home and a cause to which he had dedicated a significant part of his life.

“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me. I have walked through the heat and the rain, travelled to the remotest communities and stood with our grassroots in both victory and defeat. I have fought for this tradition with my voice, my strength, my resources and my entire heart. The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life.”

Wontumi said he could not allow his personal situation or ambition to distract the party from the task of rebuilding following its electoral defeat and preparing for the next political battle.

“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me.”

He also acknowledged the disappointment his withdrawal could cause supporters who had backed his campaign across the country.