AMID $24m Exim loot Trial
By Prince Ahenkorah
In a move calculated to test the nerves of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) establishment, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the controversial Ashanti Regional Chairman known as Chairman Wontumi, has formally declared his bid for the party’s National Chairmanship.
His announcement, made via a carefully worded statement on February 4, 2026, signals the start of a bruising internal power struggle as the party grapples with electoral defeat and seeks a path to revival ahead of the 2028 polls.
Wontumi’s ambition unfolds under a persistent shadow of alleged scandals. He remains politically entangled in accusations related to illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), and his name has been recurrently linked to a controversial GHS 24 million facility involving the EXIM Bank matters his statement notably ignored.
His bid, therefore, is widely interpreted as a pre-emptive strike to consolidate power and legal insulation from a position of supreme internal authority.
Framing his candidacy as a call to duty, Wontumi’s communiqué leaned heavily on themes of “sacrifice,” “courageous leadership,” and the need for a “grassroots revival.” He positioned himself as the definitive “product of the grassroots,” whose business acumen and mobilisation prowess in the party’s heartland are the antidotes to the NPP’s current malaise.
“This is not about personal gain; it is about the future of the NPP,” he asserted, promising an “inclusive” and “battle-ready” party apparatus.
Insiders suggest the declaration is a direct challenge to the party’s old guard and reformist factions alike. Control of the national chairmanship would grant Wontumi significant influence over candidate selection, campaign resources, and the party’s strategic direction.
His stronghold in the critical Ashanti Region makes him a formidable, if divisive, force. Supporters view him as a ruthless pragmatist who can energise the base; detractors fear his legal vulnerabilities and confrontational style risk further reputational damage and internal fracture.
The coming campaign will serve as a referendum on the NPP’s soul. Wontumi’s rise tests whether the party prioritises raw electoral machinery and regional dominance over the management of perceived ethical and legal liabilities.
His promise to “reconnect the party with its founding ideals” rings hollow to critics who see his candidacy as the embodiment of the very business-politics nexus that has eroded public trust.
The outcome will depend on whether party delegates are more swayed by his pledge of “decisive leadership” or alarmed by the prospect of his controversies becoming the party’s national banner.