Kwasi Kwarteng, the Lawyer and New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator, has quizzed Chairman Wontumi’s team on their basis for picking up forms on his behalf while he remains in custody.
According to Kwasi Kwarteng, Chairman Wontumi’s priority should be securing his freedom rather than contesting the NPP National Chairmanship race.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Kwasi Kwarteng stated, “You have applied for bail, and it is pending, while his lawyer is also having some issues with the judiciary. So what is the basis for picking the forms for who to vote for who?”
“Wontumi’s priority now is not to become a chairman. His biggest priority is to gain his freedom, not chairmanship.”
“Even if your government was in power, precedent will not allow it because who are you writing a letter to allow you to go for a vetting?” he asked.
“If we have something to do for him, it is for us to pray and use the right channels to secure his bail,” he said.
He further added, “Because even if a powerful man of God comes out today to say Wontumi stands a high chance of winning the chairmanship race but has to choose between that and his freedom, do you think it will be the chairmanship? For what?”
“His freedom is what matters, so they should exercise restraint and not prejudice the judge to spoil his chances on the bail,” he urged.
Also, Mussa Dankwah, the Executive Director and Head of Research at Global InfoAnalytics, has 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”.
Mussa Dankwah’s comment follows Chairman Wontumi, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman hopeful, who has been incarcerated, picking 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.
@ghnow_ Walayi, Our brother buys us cow every Salah – Family of the late Mohammed Rahman #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ The suspects are being escorted back to their cells after the case was adjourned to August 28, 2026. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
