Wontumi endorses John Boadu for NPP National Chairman

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 withdrew from the race following his incarceration, believes Mr Boadu is the best candidate to lead the NPP and help return the party 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. City & Local Guides Mr Danso said the decision followed consultations with Chairman Wontumi, the party's grassroots, constituency actors, campaign leadership, party elders and other stakeholders. He said the Wontumi campaign leadership visited Mr Boasiako at the Nsawam facility where he is being held on Friday, September 4, before reaching the decision 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 deliberate and strategic decision aimed at advancing the interests of the NPP. He said Mr Boadu's institutional experience and knowledge of the party's organisational structure, coupled with the Wontumi campaign's grassroots network, would strengthen the NPP ahead of 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,' he said. 'When grassroots strength meets institutional experience, and mobilisation is matched with organisation, the NPP becomes a formidable force for victory.' According to Mr Danso, the campaign believes Mr Boadu is best positioned among the aspirants to lead the NPP back to power and support 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 dated 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 following his conviction on illegal mining-related charges. His legal team is challenging the conviction and sentence. The endorsement comes after a Global InfoAnalytics survey placed John Boadu ahead of other leading contenders in the NPP National Chairmanship race. The survey, released on August 20, found that 27% of NPP voters preferred Mr Boadu as National Chairman, compared with 15% for former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and 10% for Paul Afoko.