Despite Bernard Antwi-Boasiako’s ongoing incarceration, the spokesperson for Chairman Wontumi’s campaign, Dr Palgrave Boakye Danquah, has firmly maintained that this legal setback will not affect his NPP chairmanship bid.
Dr Danquah said the campaign team remains fully committed to Chairman Wontumi’s candidacy and will take steps to ensure that he participates in the NPP’s upcoming national executive elections despite his imprisonment.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on Wednesday, August 19, Dr Danquah said Chairman Wontumi’s incarceration does not, in the view of his campaign, invalidate his decision to contest the National Chairmanship position.
Dr Danquah disclosed that the campaign team intends to pick the nomination forms on behalf of Chairman Wontumi and personally deliver them to him in prison for completion.
“We will pick forms for Wontumi. We will take them to him in prison to complete and compete for the position,” he said.
He also referred to comments by the NPP General Secretary following Wontumi’s imprisonment, noting that the party had described the Ashanti Regional Chairman as a political prisoner.
“When Chairman Wontumi was jailed, the party’s General Secretary held a press conference and announced that Chairman Wontumi is a political prisoner. That is the position of the party on this issue,” Dr Danquah said.
Chairman Wontumi’s continued bid has triggered questions over whether a person serving a prison sentence can legally or constitutionally contest a leadership position within the NPP.
Despite the uncertainty, Dr Danquah maintained that the campaign will proceed with Wontumi’s candidacy.
Chairman Wontumi is seeking to become the next NPP National Chairman and is competing against several prominent figures, including former General Secretary John Boadu, former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and former National Chairman Paul Afoko.
Dr Danquah further argued that even if Chairman Wontumi wins the National Chairmanship while still incarcerated, his imprisonment would not necessarily prevent him from performing the functions of the office.
He pointed to the collective nature of the NPP’s national executive structure, arguing that other executives could support the chairman in carrying out his responsibilities.
“The national executive is made up of other members, vice chairmen and others. Nsawam Prison is only about sixty minutes away; they can discuss issues when they visit him,” he said.