The campaign of New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman hopeful Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has picked up nomination forms for him to contest the party’s National Chairmanship race.
The development means Mr Boasiako’s bid for the top party position is moving ahead despite his current incarceration and ongoing legal challenge against his conviction.
Communications Director of the campaign team, Ewuradwoa Coleman, confirmed that the forms had been obtained on behalf of the former Ashanti Regional Chairman.
“Yes indeed, the campaign team has picked up forms on behalf of Chairman Wontumi. We are continuing his bid in the National Chairmanship race,” she told Joy News in an interview.
Mr Boasiako is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction by an Accra High Court over offences linked to illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, found him guilty of offences including assigning mineral rights without the requisite ministerial approval and deliberately facilitating unlicensed mining operations.
The sentences imposed on the various counts are being served concurrently, leaving him with an effective 20-year custodial sentence.
The court also imposed a fine of GH¢120,000, with a three-year prison term in default of payment. The default sentence is likewise to run concurrently with the main custodial sentence.
Mr Boasiako has since challenged both his conviction and sentence, with his lawyers filing an application for bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.
His campaign team’s decision to proceed with the nomination process has therefore kept his bid alive as the NPP prepares for its national executive elections.
The move places Mr Boasiako in an unusual position as he seeks to move from his current role as Ashanti Regional Chairman to the national leadership of the party while contesting the chairmanship from prison.
