Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has denied disrespecting the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Asante Kingdom when screening NPP parliamentary candidates in the area.
Chairman Wontumi is said to have made some filthy remarks regarding the Asantehene.
Nana Kwaku Duah, Chief of Kokoso and Obremponhene of Otumfuo, is said to have filed the official complaint with the Kumasi Traditional Council, as is Manhyia South NPP Constituency Chairman Ofori Attah Tom-tom.
Chairman Wontumi, speaking on Wontumi Radio, dismissed the claims against him as baseless.
“I have a lot of respect for the Asantehene and the Asante Kingdom and will never do anything to run this kingdom down, never. All these allegations are not true; they are pure lies. I cannot do that. Anybody who wishes to lie can do it,” he said.
On January 22, the Kumasi Traditional Council summoned Bernard Antwi Boasiako for allegedly making disrespectful statements against the Asantehene.
The Council requested that Mr. Boasiko come before it next Monday to address concerns about statements he purportedly made during the screening of parliamentary contenders in Manhyia South.
Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of the NPP, and Henry Nana Boakye, the party’s National Organizer, brought several regional party executives to the Manhyia Palace to discuss the problem.
the NPP General Secretary informed Council members that Chairman Wontumi is now ill and appealed with them to give the party two weeks to convince Wontumi to accept the invitation.
Members of the council, which is made up of Ashanti Kingdom clans, are outraged by purported statements made by Chairman Wontumi.
Some Chiefs stated that Chairman Wontumi must attend before the Council, even if he is in a wheelchair.
