Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has commented on an alleged assault incident involving independent candidate Kwaku Duah during the recently concluded Kumawu by-election.
Kwaku Duah is accused of slapping an agent of the NPP. According to Mr Wontumi, but for turning a new leaf, he would have had the independent candidate dealt with.
“Do you know that the independent candidate has slapped someone? He is frustrated. He slapped someone at an Anglican school near the chief’s palace.
“If I was in my old ways, I would have ordered my boys to deal with him, but I have decided to hand him over to the police. Otherwise, I would have dealt with him severely,” he said in an interview with Adom TV on May 23, 2023.
Mr Wontumi asserted that Mr Duah’s declining popularity and dwindling number of supporters may have contributed to his frustration, which seemingly led to the reported act of assault.
“He is frustrated because what happens during a general election is different from a by-election. It’s a different game. The independent candidate is frustrated because he has lost all his followers,” he stated.
The late MP, Philip Basoah polled 14,960 to win the seat for the NPP in the 2020 parliamentary polls, representing 51.11% of valid votes cast.
The independent candidate, Duah Kwaku polled 11,698 votes (39.96%) to come in second whiles the NDC’s Bernard Opoku Marfo polled a paltry 2,439 votes (8.33%), the only other candidate was Nana Amoako of GUM who got 174 (0.59%).
But in this year’s by-election, Kwaku Duah, an independent candidate, garnered 2,478 votes, representing 11.51%.
Ernest Yaw Anim received 15,264 votes, representing 70.91% of the valid votes. Kwasi Amankwaa, running on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), secured 3,723 votes, representing 17.29%.