On Monday, January 29, Kokosohene, Nana Kwaku Duah, had the opportunity to tell his side of the story in relation to the controversy between himself and Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi.
Chairman Wontumi is said to have engaged in a banter with the Kokosohene, who is also the Chairman of the Council of Elders at Manhiya, during the vetting of some party individuals.
Later, it was reported that Chairman Wontumi had cursed the Kokosohene.
At Manhyia Palace on Monday, he recounted the genesis of the controversy. According to Nana Kwaku Duah, he spotted an argument between Chairman Wontumi and a party Executive from Manhyia. In his attempt to calm the raging Wontumi, the Bernard Antwi Boasiako boasted of having his own kingdom.
“This whole issue is. We attended an NPP vetting, I am the Council of Elders Chairman, Manhyia so I had to be there. I am the vetting committee chair at Manhyia.
“When we arrived, an MP just left after being vetted. So a while later, we saw our Organizer arrive. He came to sit with the Chairman to tell him something.
“We couldn’t here what they were discussing but all of a sudden, they started arguing. So we tried to bring peace and so I told the Organizer, that even the Regional Chairman is sitting here so how do you go and argue with him. So I sacked him.
“So I was trying to calm the tension and so I was engaging our constituency Chairman who was sitting close to me. I told him, Chairman, your brother is telling you to stop and you are not paying attention to him.
“See, nobody can force me to do anything. Even if the Otumfuo says something I don’t agree with, I will let him know. So he said it for the first time and left. Then he returned and said I have created my kingdom here. So when he said that, I told him, I will not sit here for you to say anything you want. Although I am here for the vetting, I am a representative of the Otumfuo, and will not allow you to say that.
“So we argued for about 15 to 20 minutes. The women’s organizer, Nana Ama, got up and said it is NPP kingdom. I replied, saying NPP has no kingdom, and it ended there.”
Later, reports had it that Chairman Wontumi had cursed the Kokosohene. Responding to this claim, Nana Kwaku Duah confirmed that Wontumi swore an oath against his life.
He noted that this took place during a phone call among Justin Frimpong Kodua, NPP’s General Secretary, Chairman Wontumi and himself.
“Later, the Samaheme asked me and I briefed him. I was there and all of a sudden the General Secretary called me inquiring about what had happened because they are demanding that I bring Chairman Wontumi.
“So I told him that I engaged Samaheme and briefed him. Then he told me that then this is no issue and he proceeded to let me know that Chairman was on the line so I should speak to him.
“When he joined, he didn’t even allow General Secretary talk. I then told Secretary to allow him.When he opened his mouth, he said if it emerges that he didn’t say what I’m alleging he said, Antoa should kill me and use my family members for Thanksgiving,” he said.
After all was said and done, the Kumasi Traditional Council pardoned Chairman Wontumi of any allegations levelled against him. This follows Wontumi insistence of being innocent.