ACCRA — The campaign team of former New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has endorsed former NPP General Secretary John Boadu in the race to become the party's next National Chairman.

The endorsement, announced at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, September 8, effectively brings Wontumi's campaign machinery behind Boadu ahead of the NPP's national executive elections scheduled for October 3.

Administrator of the Wontumi Campaign Team, Dennis Okyere Danso, said the decision followed consultations with party members, constituency actors, campaign officials, elders and other stakeholders.

The campaign leadership also visited Wontumi at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison on September 4 before settling on Boadu as its preferred candidate.

“The Wontumi Campaign has taken the decision to close ranks and throw its full weight, organisational capacity and grassroots machinery behind Mr John Boadu for the position of National Chairman,” Danso said.

The move follows Wontumi's withdrawal from the chairmanship contest in August, a decision that reduced the field to four candidates.

Boadu is contesting against former NPP National Chairman Paul Afoko, former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and former Greater Accra Regional Chairman Sammy Crabbe.

Boadu, who previously served as NPP General Secretary, formally filed his nomination at the party's national headquarters on August 27.

Danso said the Wontumi campaign believes Boadu's experience within the NPP's administrative structures, combined with the grassroots network built by Wontumi, could strengthen the party's organisation ahead of the 2028 general election.

The campaign said its decision went beyond the political ambitions of the two men and was intended to promote greater unity within the NPP following its defeat in the 2024 general election.

“This is bigger than two campaigns. It is about putting the party above individual interests and ensuring that the NPP emerges stronger, more united and better organised,” Danso said.

The campaign has subsequently directed its regional, constituency and polling station coordinators to redirect their activities towards Boadu's candidacy.

Supporters, organisers and volunteers who previously worked for Wontumi have also been asked to join efforts to secure Boadu's election.

According to the campaign, the alliance is intended to combine Boadu's knowledge of the NPP's organisational and electoral structures with Wontumi's influence among sections of the party's grassroots.

The team said rebuilding the party would require stronger coordination from the national leadership down to constituency and polling station levels as the NPP prepares for the next general election.

It also called for restraint among the candidates and their supporters during the internal campaign.

Danso said the contest should be conducted on the principle of “unity without bitterness”, arguing that disagreements over leadership should not develop into divisions that could remain after the election.

He urged supporters of the various candidates to avoid insults, intimidation and personal attacks during the campaign.

The endorsement comes as the NPP prepares to elect a new set of national executives following a period of internal reorganisation after losing power in the 2024 elections.

The party has already selected former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as its presidential candidate for the 2028 general election, placing additional focus on the national executive contest and the leadership team that will oversee preparations for the next election.

Wontumi had initially sought to become National Chairman but withdrew before the close of nominations, citing his personal circumstances and a desire not to place an additional burden on the party.

He is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence after an Accra High Court convicted him in July of offences connected to unlicensed mining operations on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The court also imposed financial penalties against Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited.

Wontumi has challenged the conviction and applied for bail pending the determination of his appeal.

Despite his incarceration and withdrawal from the chairmanship contest, his campaign organisation has remained active, and Tuesday's announcement signals that its network will now be deployed in support of Boadu.

With less than a month until the October 3 elections, Boadu, Afoko, Agyarko and Crabbe are now competing for the support of NPP delegates who will determine who takes over the party's national chairmanship as it seeks to rebuild ahead of 2028.