I never slapped Collins Amankwaah - Wontumi

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly called ‘Chairman Wontumi’ has dispelled allegations that he slapped the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia North Collins Owusu Amankwaah during the electioneering period.

Speaking with Kwabena Anokye Adisi popularly called ‘Bola Ray’ on Starr Chat, he explained that misunderstanding ensued between him and the legislator.

According to him, if he was supposed to slap the lawmaker to bring changes in the constituency and the region as a whole, he would have done it saying he needed to stop people from playing games with voters.

‘I never said I slapped anybody, anytime you need changes in your life, you have to do some sacrifices to bring changes, when Jesus saw people trading in the temple, he got angry and crushed things, so if I was supposed to do things to get us win the elections I would have done it. But I didn’t do it, no I didn’t slap him but if am supposed to do it, I would have done it. Listen, for how long can we continue to play with the voters?. For how long can we joke with them?, we are not going to tolerate it, no I didn’t touch him,’ he explained.

In a phone-in interview with Bola Ray, the MP indicated that the regional chairman didn’t slap him as speculated by a section of the public.

Mr Amankwaah said the story was manufactured and that his party opponents wanted to capitalise on their disagreements to score cheap political points when the primaries nominations were opened.

‘No I wasn’t slapped by Chairman Wontumi, let me set the record straight. I have known him for some years now and I must say we are best friends but something interesting happened between us during the 2016 elections campaign and it became a topical issue in the country, before God and man that story was manufactured. My opponents attempted to manipulate the system to suit their own whims and caprices,’ he said.

Mr Amankwaah described Wontumi as an honest personality who never compromised with irrelevant stuffs.

‘Wontumi’ was arrested for slapping the MP during the Electoral Commission (EC’s) limited voter registration last year at one of the polling stations in the region but both parties insisted there was no slap.