Wontumi’s Presidential Aspirations Cloud NPP Leadership Dynamics

Wontumi's Presidential Aspirations Cloud NPP Leadership

Constitutional Barriers Hinder Wontumi's Ambitions

Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, faces constitutional barriers to his presidential aspirations. Despite his intentions to contest as National Chairman, Wontumi is ineligible due to a 20-year custodial sentence.

My position is based on the following constitutional provisions, according to a legal expert. Article 14(1)(a), Article 55(8), and Article 94(2)(c)(ii) (e) of the Constitution 1992 are key in determining Wontumi's eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria Under Scrutiny

Article 55(8) of the Constitution requires a person seeking to be a founding member of a political party or an executive to first qualify to be elected as a Member of Parliament. The eligibility criteria in Article 94 state that a person convicted and sentenced for a high crime per Article 2(4) or a period of more than 10 years according to Article 94(2)(c)(ii) (e) is not eligible to contest a Parliamentary Seat.

This means that Chairman Wontumi, who has been convicted and jailed for 20 years, does not meet the eligibility criteria and is barred from being a founding member of the NPP or contesting an executive office.

Vetting Process in Question

The NPP is set to hold vetting for aspiring national officers at the NPP Headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra. However, it is unclear how Chairman Wontumi will attend the vetting process, given his custodial sentence. The Constitution states that the enjoyment of civil liberties, such as freedom of movement, may be lawfully curtailed by the Court through the execution of a conviction and sentence or any such appropriate orders.

It will be absurd, unconstitutional, and illegal for anyone to attempt to grant Chairman Wontumi leave from prison to attend the vetting process, according to the same legal expert.

Implications for the NPP

The NPP's Constitution in Article 3(5)(1)(b)(ii) speaks unequivocally in agreement with the aforementioned constitutional provisions. This means that Chairman Wontumi's presidential aspirations are unlikely to come to fruition. The case of Ekwam v Pianim (No.2) (1996-97) SCGLR 120 259 also supports the conclusion that Chairman Wontumi is ineligible to contest as National Chairman of the NPP.

The implications of this development for the NPP leadership and its presidential aspirations are yet to be seen. However, one thing is clear: Chairman Wontumi's constitutional barriers will not be easily overcome.

Source: JOY