A coalition of New Patriotic Party (NPP) regional and constituency chairmen in the Bono and Ahafo Regions are reportedly strategizing to prevent Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, from gaining support in their strongholds as he pursues his ambition to become the party’s next National Chairman Kumasi Mail has gathered.
According to insiders, the group accuses Chairman Wontumi currently the Ashanti Regional Chairman—of undermining their leadership during the run-up to the 2024 general elections.
They allege that Wontumi deliberately sought to control campaign budgets and influence decision-making across multiple regions, including theirs, by lobbying party leadership with damaging claims about local executives.
“You Wontumi, you’re a regional chairman, I’m also an elected regional chairman. Yet you went and told Dr. Bawumia that there were problems in my region and that my budget should be handed over to you to manage on my behalf,” an aggrieved chairman is quoted as saying. “He tried to paint a negative picture about us to gain control and weaken our authority.”
The group claims that some constituency executives in the Bono Region were at times directed to report to Chairman Wontumi instead of their own regional leadership, creating confusion and disunity.
“This interference,” they say, “contributed to the party’s poor performance in the region, where only one seat was retained in the last election.”
One source suggested that Wontumi’s tactics were aimed at securing influence in Bono and Ahafo to bolster his national ambitions.
“He wanted to use our regional structures to become popular while sidelining our own chairman, Chairman Abronye. But this time, we are ready for him. If he brings money, our people will take it but he will get no votes.”
The group insists that other regional chairmen who were similarly affected by Wontumi’s alleged interference will also oppose his candidacy.
As internal tensions simmer, it remains to be seen how this developing rift will influence the NPP’s leadership race ahead of the party’s next national delegates conference.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
