Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Wontumi has admitted that his last regional chairmanship contest with Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA) was tough.
“To be quiet honest, in the last NPP chairmanship contest in Ashanti Region organized at the Baba Yara sports stadium, COKA gave me fierce contest to the extent that at some point l had to sit on the ground at the stadium.
“As a Regional Chairman, l sat on the ground because the contest became tough. So when l sat on the ground and had said l was withdrawing from the contest, would l have won the regional chairmanship again? No. That is not how elections are done”, Chairman Wontumi said in an interview with Kessben Fm in Kumasi.
Chairman Wontumi retained his regional chairman position after a fierce contest with the former Afigya kwabre South constituency chairman of the NPP, Odeneho kwaku Appiah last year.
He polled 464 votes to beat COKA with 306 votes, a difference of 158votes.
Chairman Wontumi who was responding to reports that the Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for president campaign team have been intimidating the Alan Kyerematen team, hence Alan’s decision to quit the NPP presidential contest said “now l am always with Chairman Odeneho Appiah discussing the progress of NPP in Ashanti Region”.
“NPP believes in free and fair elections but l can tell you that our elections are always fierce and so you must always come prepared.
“So in the national elections, if National Democratic Congress (NDC) intimidates the NPP, should the Party withdraw from the contest?
“That is not how things are done. So what if Alan had won the super delegates elections organised in August 26, would he pull out from the November 4, contest?.
Chairman Wontumi is of the view that Alan as a senior member of NPP will continue to contribute to the development of the party.
“Alan knows the history of NPP. Infect, he has done well for NPP. He has served NPP from childhood. Alan served in President Kufuor’s government. He also served in President Akufo-Addo’s government as Trade and Industry Minister and when the Vice-President, Dr. Bawumia wins the primaries and eventually wins the presidency, Alan will definitely get appointment”.
When asked about how he sees the contest now that Alan has withdrawn from the race, Chairman Wontumi stated that “the NPP started its internal reorganisation with the election of polling station executives who elected the constituency chairmen and their executives.
“The constituency executives elected regional and national executives. What is left is the presidential and parliamentary elections.
“The constituency chairpersons, regional and national executives and those in diaspora formed the Electoral College who voted in the super delegates on August 26.
“In that election, Dr. Bawumia got over 68%. Nothing will change on November 4.
“The Vice-President will win and become the presidential candidate for NPP in 2024 elections.
“The over 600 people who voted for Dr. Bawumia in the super delegates election did so on behalf of their polling station executives and their constituents.”
