Stop misleading Ghanaians with Wontumi 'political prisoner' tag - Cudjoe tells NPP

IMANI Africa President, Franklin Cudjoe, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to avoid describing its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as a political prisoner following his 20-year prison sentence.

Reacting to the conviction, Cudjoe said his interactions with Wontumi did not leave him with the impression that the case was politically motivated.

“Frankly, from my lunch with Chairman Wontumi about a month and a half ago, I didn’t sense his ordeal was politically engineered,” he said.

According to Cudjoe, Wontumi himself reflected on his situation during their meeting.

He said, ‘If I had my way, there were things I would have done differently,' Cudjoe disclosed.

He advised the NPP leadership to be measured in its public response to the judgment.

“I advise the opposition NPP leadership to tread cautiously and not mislead followers by labeling Wontumi a ‘political prisoner,’ especially with other grave cases against him still pending,” he said.

Cudjoe also noted that Wontumi had agreed to refund money in the EXIM Bank case.

“He has agreed to refund millions in the Exim case, for instance,” he added.

Instead of politicising the conviction, Cudjoe said the party should focus on the legal process.

“I’d rather they follow Honourable John Darko, Suame MP and Ashanti Caucus leader, who urged calm while exploring legal options to challenge the ruling,” he stated.