Wontumi has no power to make any MP go unopposed – F.F Antoh

The Second National Vice-Chair of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Frederick F. Antoh has stated that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, has no power to give an order for an incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) in the party’s stronghold to go unopposed in the upcoming primaries.

Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi recently gave an indication that he’ll ensure that the Member of Parliament for Asante Mampong Constituency, Hon. Ampratwum Sarpong will go unopposed in the upcoming parliamentary primaries.

He told the constituency executives that the MP is seriously executing his mandate to better the lives of the people in the constituency as well as the party and for that matter needs to be protected.

“I’m officially launching Agenda 47/47 and I can see Hon. Ampratwum to be part of the team to win elections 2020/2024 and beyond, so I need him. Tell anybody who wants to contest Hon. Ampratwum, that I Chairman Wontumi came here and told you that, that person should stop and support him because, he will not be contested” he charged the party executives while speaking at the commissioning of a 6-Unit classroom block at Kofiase SDA Senior High and Technical School.

But speaking to Akwasi Nsiah on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa FM, Mr. F.F Antoh stated that the process governing the selection of Parliamentary candidates is backed by the party’s constitution which makes it impossible for an individual to decide for the entire party.

“Wontumi has no right to declare any incumbent MP unopposed in the upcoming party parliamentary primaries. Selection of Parliamentary Candidates is guided by Article 12 of our party constitution, so nobody can just sit somewhere and declare another person as unopposed in such an election. Wontumi can only appeal to the delegates to maintain the incumbent but not force any candidate on the constituents. That is never done.”

The former Ashanti Regional Minister, however, added that any aspiring parliamentary candidate who’ll be disqualified will have an opportunity to appeal that decision.