Dr Jonathan Asante Otchere, a Political analyst and University of Cape Coast (UCC) lecturer, has said the 20-year prison sentence handed to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, would affect the party’s morale and finances.
According to the Political analyst, Wontumi’s influence within the NPP, particularly among the grassroots, will make his absence a major concern for the party.
Dr Jonathan Asante Otchere argued that Wontumi’s energetic personality and unique approach to mobilising supporters helped him to connect with the grassroots.
Speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight, Dr Jonathan Asante Otchere stated, “Whichever way you look at it, it is definitely going to affect not only the morale, but of course the financial aspects of the party within the region.
“He has a very interesting way of re-energising the grassroots with his boisterous nature, sometimes dancing in a boisterous fashion to energise them. He has some clique of a sort with the grassroots”, he remarked.
“Definitely, once he is out of the scene, it is going to affect the party. Probably that is the source of the fear”.
He added, “… He has lost that brazen authority that he used to have, that aura of invincibility that he used to have within that region and beyond; I think it is in tatters for now”.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, has led a high-profile party delegation to visit the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Chairman Wontumi, at the Nsawam Prison.
According to UTV reports, Dr Bawumia’s delegation was made up of former NPP National Chairman Freddie Blay, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, and other senior NPP members.
Bawumia and the NPP delegation’s visit comes days after Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour over illegal mining-related offences.
In a viral video shared by UTV Ghana, it captured a large motorcade arriving and party members later gathering outside the facility.
Also, Miracles Dennis Aboagye, the Communications team member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said Chairman Wontumi was jailed because of his own mouth.
According to Miracles Aboagye, Chairman Wontumi’s public utterances while the NPP was in power were a major reason behind his current 20-year prison sentence and not because of galamsey.
Miracles Aboagye stressed that Wontumi has been made a scapegoat unless people don’t want to accept the truth.
Speaking during a discussion on UTV, Miracles Aboagye stated, “We all know that the reason why Chairman Wontumi is in jail isn’t because of galamsey but because of his own mouth. As for Chairman Wontumi being used as a scapegoat for a political party, we knew that was going to happen. He is a political prisoner”.
“We all know that Chairman Wontumi is a scapegoat unless you don’t want to accept the truth.
“He’s in jail because of politics. He’s a political prisoner. I doubt he would have been in there if he wasn’t Chairman Wontumi. There are a lot of galamsey operators, so why haven’t they been jailed?” he added.
@ghnow_ Speaker of parliament departs Asomdwee Park after attending the wreath-laying ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the passing of the late H.E. Professor John Evans Atta Mills
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@ghnow_ Hon. Fiifi Kwartey and Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu exchange pleasantries in Parliament ahead of the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
