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.
Chairman Wontumi, who pulled out of the race while in prison, believes Mr Boadu is the right person to lead the NPP and help the party return to power.
The endorsement was announced by the administrator of the Wontumi campaign, Dennis Okyere Danso, at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Mr Danso said the decision was reached after consultations with Chairman Wontumi, party supporters at the grassroots, constituency leaders, the campaign team, party elders and other stakeholders.
He said members of the Wontumi campaign team visited Mr Boasiako at the Nsawam facility, where he is being held, on Friday, September 4, before the decision was made to support Mr Boadu.
“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 carefully considered decision aimed at strengthening the NPP and promoting the party’s interests.
He said Mr Boadu’s experience within the party and his understanding of its organisational structure, together with the Wontumi campaign’s grassroots network, would give the NPP greater strength as it prepares for the 2028 general elections.
“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.
Mr Danso said the Wontumi campaign believes Mr Boadu is the best placed among the candidates to lead the NPP back to power.
He added that the campaign also believes Mr Boadu can help the party’s efforts to return former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to the presidency in 2028.
Chairman Wontumi withdrew from the NPP’s upcoming national elections on August 24, days after his campaign team picked up nomination forms on his behalf.
In a statement issued on August 24, 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 both the conviction and the sentence.
The endorsement comes after a Global InfoAnalytics survey placed John Boadu ahead of other leading candidates in the NPP National Chairmanship race.
The survey, released on August 20, showed that 27% of NPP voters preferred Mr Boadu as National Chairman. Former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko followed with 15%, while Paul Afoko had 10%.
