Wontumi Supporters Hold Vigil In Solidarity

Supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region have held a vigil in Kumasi to express solidarity with the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, following his conviction and 20-year prison sentence over offences linked to illegal mining. The vigil, held on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the forecourt of the NPP’s office in Asokwa, attracted party supporters who said they had gathered to demonstrate their continued support for Mr Boasiako while he serves his sentence and pursues legal avenues to challenge his conviction.

The gathering was also intended to reassure the embattled regional chairman that he retains the backing of party members, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where he has played a prominent role in the NPP’s political activities. Fredrick Agyemang Mensah, Chairman of the Kwabre East Constituency and chairman of the planning committee for the vigil, said the event was organized principally to give Mr Boasiako hope and assurance that he was not facing the situation alone.

“Our message tonight is to give him hope that Chairman, you are not alone. Ashanti is behind you. The NPP is behind you.” Mr Mensah said Mr Boasiako had made significant sacrifices for the party over the years and deserved the solidarity of party supporters at a difficult moment in his life. He said the regional chairman had remained committed to the NPP through challenging periods, arguing that his supporters were therefore obliged to stand with him following his conviction.

“Wontumi has gone through all the odds. He has sacrificed, he has worked hard and been through it all. So today, if he finds himself in this situation, it will only be proper that as party faithfuls, we will show our solidarity,” he said. The organizers said the vigil was not intended to interfere with the judicial process but to demonstrate political and personal support for Mr Boasiako as his legal team challenges the conviction and sentence.

Mr Boasiako was convicted on two counts connected to activities at Akonta Mining’s Samreboi concession. The charges relate to the unlawful assignment of mineral rights without the requisite ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations at the concession. His conviction and subsequent 20-year prison sentence have generated significant attention, particularly because of his position as a senior NPP figure in the Ashanti Region. The vigil therefore brought together supporters seeking to publicly reaffirm their loyalty to him while his lawyers pursue an appeal through the courts.

For the NPP supporters who gathered in Asokwa, the event was both a show of solidarity and an expression of their belief that Mr Boasiako should be supported while he exhausts the legal process available to him. The legal challenge now before his team is expected to determine the next stage of the case, while the political significance of his conviction continues to resonate within the NPP, particularly in the Ashanti Region.

By: Joyce Owusu