Observe legal vacation at the cost of Wontumi’s chairmanship bid
The lead counsel for former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, was absent from court as the High Court sat to hear his client’s bail application.
The bail application has subsequently been adjourned to October 15, 2026, leaving Wontumi’s bid to contest the NPP National Chairmanship in uncertainty.
Mr Atta Akyea had earlier indicated that the legal vacation period was a time for lawyers to rest and that he would not be appearing in court during the period.He is also among lawyers who have petitioned the Chief Justice to halt certain legal proceedings during the vacation period to allow members of the legal profession to take a break.
The absence of the defence lawyers meant that the court could not proceed with the bail application of Wontumi, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining. Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, was present in court to represent the state.The court has now fixed October 15 for the bail application to be heard.
The development comes at a crucial time for Wontumi, who is seeking to become the next National Chairman of the NPP.The party has scheduled its National Delegates Conference for October 3, 2026, where national executives will be elected. This means Wontumi’s next bail hearing will take place 12 days after the NPP’s delegates conference.
Despite his legal situation, spokesperson for the Wontumi campaign, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has maintained that Wontumi remains poised to contest the chairmanship race.The campaign has continued to project Wontumi as a candidate in the contest to succeed outgoing National Chairman Stephen Ayesu Ntim.
However, the latest development has raised questions about whether Wontumi will be able to participate in the election, particularly if he remains in custody when delegates gather in Kumasi on October 3.The uncertainty is further heightened by the fact that his bail application will only be heard after the delegates conference.
Wontumi’s situation has therefore created an unusual intersection between his legal battle and his political ambitions.His lawyers, who are seeking his release from custody says they are on legal vacation, while his campaign maintains that he remains in the chairmanship race.
But with the court yet to determine his bail application and the NPP’s delegates conference scheduled before the hearing, the question of his actual participation remains unresolved. For now, October 3 will determine the NPP’s new national leadership, while October 15 could determine whether Wontumi gets another opportunity to fight his legal battle from outside custody.
Until the court rules on his bail application and the party clarifies the eligibility and participation arrangements, Wontumi’s chairmanship bid remains in limbo.