Wontumi withdraws from NPP chairmanship race

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the race for the National Chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), saying his personal circumstances must not become an additional burden on the party. In a statement dated August 24, 2026, Mr Antwi Boasiako said the decision followed many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters. He described the decision as painful and contrary to what his heart desired, but said he had concluded that stepping aside was necessary to protect the party he has served for many years. “I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding,” he said.

According to him, he could not ask the NPP to carry his personal difficulties at a time when the party was already dealing with the aftermath of electoral defeat and preparing for the next political contest. “I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead,” he said, adding that he would rather carry his pain quietly than allow the party to suffer because of him. Mr Antwi Boasiako expressed gratitude to his supporters across all 16 regions, recalling the sacrifices they had made during his campaign. He said supporters had travelled long distances to meet him, opened their homes and remained with him during difficult and dangerous moments. “Some of you have cried for me. Some have fasted and prayed for me. Others have endured ridicule, intimidation and personal attacks simply because you believed in me,” he said.

He acknowledged that his decision could disappoint supporters but appealed to them not to turn their disappointment into attacks against the NPP or other candidates. “Do not insult anyone in my name. Do not attack any aspirant because of me. Do not abandon the party because Wontumi is passing through a difficult season,” he stated. He further urged his supporters to remain loyal to the tradition he has served throughout his political career. A major part of Mr Antwi Boasiako’s message was an appeal to NPP members to rally behind the party’s presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. He called on supporters to offer Dr Bawumia their prayers, loyalty and total support, arguing that the NPP leader needed the collective strength of party members to rebuild the party and prepare it for a return to power.

“Dr Bawumia needs our prayers, loyalty and total support. He cannot rebuild this party alone,” he said. He urged party members to put aside their differences and give Dr Bawumia the support needed to lead a “united, disciplined and formidable party” back to victory. “Remain strong. Remain united. Remain loyal to the party. Stand firmly behind Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and never lose faith in our great Elephant tradition,” he added. Despite withdrawing from the chairmanship contest, Mr Antwi Boasiako insisted that his decision should not be interpreted as the end of his political journey or his commitment to the NPP.

He said his current circumstances might prevent him from standing before supporters physically, but could not extinguish his love for the party, his faith or his belief in the truth. “My present circumstances may prevent me from standing before you physically, but they cannot imprison my love for the NPP. They cannot imprison my faith. They cannot imprison the truth,” he said. He described the withdrawal as “only one chapter” of his life and not the end of his story, while assuring supporters that he remained committed to serving the NPP. “This is not goodbye. It is not the end of the journey. It is only a painful pause in a much greater story that God Himself is still writing,” he said.

Mr Antwi Boasiako also appealed for calm among his supporters, saying he held no bitterness towards those who disagreed with him. He ended his message with prayers for his supporters, the NPP and Ghana, expressing hope that he and his supporters would meet again “not in sorrow; not in defeat, but in victory.” “The battle is still the Lord’s,” he stated.

By: Joyce Owusu