Former Constituency Chairman Blames Chairman Wontumi for NPP Loss in Ashanti Region
A former New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman for the Fomena Constituency, Akwasi Nti Asamoah, has blamed the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for the party’s declining performance in the region during the 2024 general elections.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s morning show, Akwasi Nti said internal divisions and disrespectful conduct by associates of Chairman Wontumi severely undermined the party’s unity and electoral fortunes in its traditional stronghold. He stated that the leadership style of the regional chairman alienated many party faithful and created deep cracks that weakened their grassroots support.
“The insults from Wontumi’s boys and the arrogance of his leadership pushed people away. The NPP lost because of the division he created,” Akwasi Nti asserted.
Traditionally considered the NPP’s electoral backbone, the Ashanti Region saw a noticeable drop in parliamentary and presidential votes in the 2024 elections. The party’s parliamentary seats in the region fell from 39 in 2020 to 34 in 2024, a decline that many analysts consider significant in such a stronghold.
In the presidential race, the NPP’s candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, polled 1,366,800 votes in the Ashanti Region — still leading but with a narrower margin compared to past elections. His main rival, the NDC’s John Dramani Mahama, received 697,076 votes, marking a closing gap that sparked internal alarm.
“These figures should be a wake-up call,” Akwasi Nti added. “Ashanti Region is not just a region for us; it is our lifeline. When you start losing grip here, it means there is a serious problem.”
He concluded with a call for a comprehensive review of the party’s regional leadership structure, stressing the need for unity, discipline, and a return to grassroots engagement if the NPP hopes to maintain its dominance in future elections.
Akwasi Nti, who is aspirng for the position of Ashanti Regional First Vice Chairman of the party, emphasized that his decision to contest is rooted in a desire to restore cohesion and rebuild trust among the party’s base in the region.
