The Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (alias Chairman Wontumi), has mistakenly urged Ghanaians to vote for John Mahama, John Dramani Mahama instaed of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming elections.
Chairman Wontumi was with the media in Kumasi to generate support for the NPP’s campaign, urging residents to vote overwhelmingly for Dr. Bawumia and the NPP as they aim for a historic 85% of the vote in the December 7 election.
During the interview, Wontumi promoted the NPP ticket of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the best choice for the Asantes, while depicting Mahama as an adversary of the Ashanti Region.
Unfortunately for Wontumi, while attempting to endorse Dr. Bawumia as the ideal candidate for the Ashanti Region, he accidentally mentioned John Dramani Mahama. This slip has become the focal point of the interview, which lasted over an hour and a half.
“We are pleading with you all to vote for John Dramani ….” Wontumi said in the viral video.
Wontumi is the second high-profile NPP member to suffer a speech gaffe this year after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo mistakenly mentioned John Mahama as his vice instead of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was forced to ‘retract’ a statement he made at the launch of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), a nationwide initiative to improve road conditions in all 275 constituencies.
The president, as he was touting the performance of his government in the road sector, mistakenly mentioned former President John Dramani Mahama instead of his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
“We’ve witnessed an extraordinary expansion and improvement in our road network throughout the country. From 2009 to 2016, that is the Mills-Mahama era, our nation completed 4,636 roads and five interchanges and overpasses. However, since January 2017 till date, i.e. the Akufo-Addo-Mahama era,” he said.
The president tried correcting his mistake, but before then, many in the audience reacted with an “Eiiii.”
The president could be seen covering his mouth, after which he said:
“That’s unforgivable. That’s unforgivable. I hope you will allow me to withdraw that statement; The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia era.”