Wontumi, executives can't determine who goes unopposed in Ashanti Region - John Boadu

The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has debunked rumours in the Ashanti Region that the party’s Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako solely has the power to declare a seat unopposed in all the 44 constituencies.

The NPP Chief Scribe has issued a firm assurance on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show that, it does not lie in the hands of one person to determine which candidate go unopposed as far as the Parliamentary Primaries in the Ashanti Region are concerned.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama constituency, Daniel Okyem Aboagye, has defended his decision to kneel before the Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako also known as Chairman Wontumi.

The lawmaker took that bold decision for Chairman Wontumi to declare his constituency as one of those areas parliamentary primaries should not be held.

But John Boadu reacting to the gesture of the Bantama lawmaker insisted that, inasmuch as there is nothing wrong for the MP to plead for another term in office from the delegates, it will not stop those who want to contest him for the candidature.

"There is nothing wrong for the MPs to plead for another term in office from the delegates. You can go to Okay FM and Peace FM and cry, it is up to those who are contesting you to decide whether to discontinue or continue to contest the primaries, but beyond that as a party, we will open nomination and if nobody comes to pick nomination forms out of sympathy then you can go unopposed,” he clarified.

He, however, revealed that the National Executive Council has accepted rules and regulations which are to be used for the vetting process; thus, the Steering Committee on Monday will meet to spell out the rules and regulations and then call for a press conference on Wednesday to detail how the vetting will be organised.

“This time around, we will zone the country into 4 and get national officers to join the region and constituency to conduct the vetting. After that, we will determine what to do next, and so if you are going to kneel, cry and beg delegates at this time, I think you are wasting time,” he indicated.

He, therefore, charged interested and qualified candidates to concentrate their efforts on doing what is needful by campaigning and making sure that they appeal to their constituents, assuring the party faithful that the right thing will be done.

“Anybody with doubt in the Ashanti Region should be rest assured that their doubts are wrong. Most of the things you have heard of which others have taken them seriously are rumours. It can’t be that all the 44 constituencies, one person can determine who should go unopposed and those that can be contested; where can this be done?” he said on Okay FM.