Chairman Wontumi Behaved Well in NPP Primaries
Isaac Amoah, the Managing Editor of the New Trust Newspaper, has praised the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, populary known as Wontumi for his composed behaviour during the recent NPP parliamentary primary in the Ashanti Region.
Unlike previous primaries where Wontumi stirred controversy by openly rallying support for certain candidates, this time around, the approach was different.
He acknowledged that while Wontumi might have exercised influence discreetly, it was a departure from past practices that often led to conflicts in some polling stations of the Ashanti Region.
“In the past, Chairman Wontumi and co. would openly seek support for a particular individual and cause trouble. However, this time, one cannot confidently assert that such endorsements were made publicly; perhaps, they occurred behind the scenes,” stated Mr Amoah during a panel discussion on Opemsuo Radio’s Nkwantannanso with Kofi Boakye on January 31.
He also lauded the constituency executives for refraining from publicly endorsing candidates and referenced past instances where constituency chairman wielded significant influence, even deciding who could obtain forms to contest, a practice that often sparked controversy.
In the past, Chairman Wontumi faced criticism for allegedly providing support to specific candidates and influencing the uncontested status of others, leading to backlash.
In 2020, he signaled his intention to ensure that Hon. Ampratwum Sarpong, the Member of Parliament for the Asante Mampong Constituency, went unopposed in the parliamentary primaries. This move was met with substantial criticism.
The 2024 NPP parliamentary primary in the Ashanti Region saw a total of 36,084 delegates from 36 constituencies participating, with 126 candidates vying for the opportunity to represent the party in the upcoming December elections.
Story by Adwoa S. Danso
