Campaign From Prison: Wontumi Backs John Boadu

The campaign team of former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has endorsed former General Secretary John Boadu for the party’s National Chairmanship position.

The campaign said Mr Boadu was the candidate best positioned to rebuild the NPP, strengthen its grassroots structures and lead the party back to power in the 2028 general elections.

The endorsement was announced at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, by the administrator of the Wontumi Campaign Team, Dennis Okyere Danso.

Mr Danso said the decision followed consultations with Chairman Wontumi, the campaign leadership, grassroots members, constituency actors, party elders and other stakeholders across the country.

He disclosed that members of the Wontumi campaign leadership visited Mr Boasiako at the Nsawam facility, where he is serving a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction on illegal mining-related charges, on Friday, September 4, before reaching the decision.

“Following the meeting and after extensive consultation with the grassroots, constituency actors, campaign leadership, party elders and stakeholders across the country, the Wontumi campaign has taken a firm and decisive position to throw our full support, strength and political weight behind the candidature of Mr John Boadu for the National Chairman,” he said.

Mr Danso described the endorsement as a deliberate and strategic decision aimed at protecting the collective interest and future of the NPP.

He said the Wontumi campaign’s extensive grassroots network, combined with Mr Boadu’s institutional experience and knowledge of the party’s organisational structures, would provide the political machinery needed to revive the party.

“John Boadu brings extensive institutional experience, deep knowledge of the party’s organisational structure, strong relationships across its ranks and proven records of frontline service. When grassroots strength meets institutional experience, and mobilisation is matched with organisation, the NPP becomes a formidable force for victory,” he said.

According to Mr Danso, the campaign believes Mr Boadu is the best among the aspirants to lead the NPP back to its “winning ways” and support efforts to return former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to the presidency in 2028.

The campaign stressed that regaining political power in 2028 must remain the NPP’s main objective, warning that internal divisions and factionalism could undermine efforts to rebuild the party ahead of the election.

“There are moments in politics when leaders must choose between protecting their own corner and strengthening the entire house. We have chosen the house,” Mr Danso said.

Following the endorsement, the campaign directed its regional and constituency structures, electoral area coordinators, polling station executives, communicators, volunteers and supporters who previously worked for Chairman Wontumi to transfer their support to Mr Boadu.

“Wherever you organised for Wontumi, organise for John Boadu. Wherever you mobilised for Wontumi, mobilise for John Boadu. Wherever you stood for Wontumi, stand for John Boadu,” he urged.

The campaign, however, said its decision should not be interpreted as an attack on the other contenders in the NPP’s internal elections.

It pledged to support Mr Boadu’s campaign without insults, intimidation or personal attacks, stressing that all members would have to unite after the contest to prepare the party for the 2028 elections.

“Internal democracy must never become internal warfare,” the campaign cautioned.

Chairman Wontumi withdrew from the NPP’s National Chairmanship race on August 24, 2026, days after his campaign team picked up nomination forms on his behalf.

In announcing his withdrawal, Mr Boasiako said the decision followed consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters.

He is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted on illegal mining-related charges. His legal team is challenging the conviction and sentence.

The endorsement comes after a Global InfoAnalytics survey released on August 20 placed Mr Boadu ahead of other leading contenders in the National Chairmanship race.

The survey found that 27 per cent of NPP voters preferred Mr Boadu as National Chairman, compared with 15 per cent for former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and 10 per cent for Paul Afoko.