Incarcerated New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn his bid to become the party’s National Chairman.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 24, 2026, Wontumi said his decision followed several nights of prayer, reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters.
He said his current circumstances should not become an additional burden or distraction to the NPP as the party seeks to rebuild following its 2024 electoral defeat.
“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.
Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence with hard labour following his conviction by the Accra High Court in the Samreboi mining case. The court found him guilty on charges involving the unauthorised assignment of mineral rights and facilitating unlicensed mining operations. The sentences on the two counts are running concurrently.
His legal team has challenged the conviction and sentence, while a bail application is also pending.
Despite withdrawing from the National Chairmanship race, Wontumi insisted that the decision did not amount to surrender and maintained his innocence.
“I remain innocent in my heart and firm in my belief that, in God’s appointed time, justice will prevail,” he said.
He also urged his supporters not to attack other aspirants, insult anyone in his name or abandon the NPP because of his circumstances.
“Do not abandon the party because Wontumi is passing through a difficult season,” he said, stressing that “no individual is bigger than the New Patriotic Party; not even me.”
Wontumi further directed his supporters to remain firmly behind NPP leader Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, saying the former Vice President needed the “prayers, loyalty and total support” of the party to rebuild it and lead it back to power.
He said his withdrawal was not the end of his political journey, describing it as “a painful pause in a much greater story that God Himself is still writing.”
“My body may be confined today, but my heart remains with you,” he said.