Wontumi to file nomination for NPP National Chairman position on August 27 despite 20-year prison sentence

Convicted former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, plans to file his nomination for the party's National Chairman position on August 27, 2026, despite serving a 20-year prison sentence. His campaign team has submitted the necessary nomination forms at the NPP's national headquarters in Accra, and the filing process will close on August 29.

The decision to continue Wontumi's candidacy has raised constitutional questions, as his conviction for illegal mining activities and a 20-year prison sentence may disqualify him from contesting parliamentary seats under the 1992 Constitution. However, the National Elections Committee Chairman, Fredrick Opare-Ansah, stated that the party's secretariat cannot prevent anyone from obtaining nomination forms, leaving the eligibility determination to the Vetting Committee.

Wontumi is not the only aspirant for the National Chairman position, with five candidates, including former National Chairman Paul Awentami Afoko, having filed their nomination forms.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.