Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairmanship aspirant, has withdrawn from the party’s national chairmanship race.
According to Chairman Wontumi, his decision was due to his current circumstances and a desire not to become a burden to the party.
Wontumi disclosed that his decision comes from “many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations” with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters.
In a statement dated Monday, August 24, Chairman Wontumi stated, “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.”
“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 said.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he said. “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.”
“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,” he said. “I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me.”
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
The development follows Chairman Wontumi, who had earlier picked up nomination forms to contest the party’s National Chairman position.
Ewuradwoa Coleman, the Communications Director of Wontumi’s campaign team, made this known.
Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Ewuradwoa Coleman stated, “Yes indeed, the campaign team has picked up forms on behalf of Chairman Wontumi. We are continuing his bid in the National Chairmanship race”.
“If there is a legal or constitutional impediment to his candidacy, we believe that the appropriate party or competent authority would definitely determine that in accordance with the rules, but politically, we believe that his incarceration would automatically not be equated with the end of his political ambitions.”
Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after an Accra High Court found him guilty of charges linked to illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
However, despite his incarceration and ongoing legal troubles, his campaign team has proceeded with his bid for the NPP National Chairman position by obtaining the nomination forms on his behalf.
Earlier, Mussa Dankwah, the Executive Director and Head of Research at Global InfoAnalytics, had warned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against electing incarcerated Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as its National Chairman.
According to Mussa Dankwah, Wontumi is not Mandela, arguing that electing him while in jail will not attract elite voters.
He highlighted that the party needs to focus on rebuilding its electoral fortunes ahead of the next general election rather than making a political statement by choosing a chairman who is serving a prison sentence.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, Mussa Dankwah stated, “I don’t think he will win… Because you see, the NPP needs a direction. They need to find a way to win the next election. Electing Wontumi from prison will not make that possible. They should be realistic about these things. Wontumi is not Mandela.”
“Polling shows that the majority of Ghanaian voters are highly educated now. Nearly 70% of them have senior high and above qualifications”.
“So, the political situation has changed dramatically in this country. And these are the people who want a new type of politics. And already the polls are showing that NPP has lost their elite voters,” he said.
He added, “This shenanigans will not attract elite voters to NPP. And these are the people they need to start winning their hearts and minds to win the next election”.
See the statement below:
@ghnow_ Afenyo-Markin sues Sammy Gyamfi over extortion allegations #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – Official M/C_Foreigner
@ghnow_ 🇬🇭 Black Stars and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo looking sharp tonight. He is one of the players that could be named in the PFA Team of the Year. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
