The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has refuted a news report that accused him of disrespecting the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during a vetting process of NPP parliamentary aspirants last week.
He said that the news report, which was published by the Punch newspaper and AkomaFM/Onuaonline, both affiliated to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), was false, malicious, misleading, and aimed at creating a rift between him, the NPP, and the Asantehene.
He said that he had never made any statement or gesture that would warrant such a disgraceful and unfounded reportage, and that he had always served the Asantehene with pride and dignity as the regional chairman of the NPP.
He said that the writers and sponsors of the news report could not provide any evidence to support their claims, and that they hid behind vague phrases like “it is alleged” and “he is reported to have”.
He said that this was a calculated move to tarnish his reputation and distract him from his focus of leading the party in the region to break the eight-year cycle and make Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the next president of Ghana in 2025.
He gave the Punch newspaper, Broadcastergh.com, and AkomaFM/Onuaonline a 24-hour ultimatum to retract and apologize to him and the Manhyia Palace, or face legal action.
He urged the party faithfuls and the good people of Asanteman to disregard the news report and treat it with the contempt it deserves.
He said that he respected the traditions and customs of the Asante Kingdom, and that he would not allow anyone to destroy the cordial relationship between him, the NPP, and the Asantehene.