'Those who now want to dictate to COKA were okay with Wontumi’s leadership' - Nkansah

Former government appointee Kofi Ofosu Nkansah has come to the defence of Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as Chairman COKA, following a petition by some regional executives questioning his leadership style.

In a Facebook post, Ofosu Nkansah criticised those seeking to challenge Chairman COKA’s approach to managing the party in the Ashanti Region, arguing that they had previously accepted what he described as a similar leadership style under former regional chairman, Chairman Wontumi.

His comments come after Ashanti Regional Organiser Dennis Kwakwa and Regional Women’s Organiser Beatrice Owusu petitioned the NPP National Chairman over the purported submission of a list from the Ashanti Region to the party’s National Council.

In the October 26, 2026 petition, the two regional executives disputed the legitimacy of the purported list, arguing that no meeting had been convened and no decision had been taken by either the Regional Steering Committee or the Regional Executive Committee regarding the selection of representatives to the National Council.

They further cautioned that any list submitted without the appropriate collective decision-making process should be disregarded until the requirements under Article 9(24) of the party’s constitution were fulfilled.

However, Ofosu Nkansah questioned what he considers to be a double standard among some party members, insisting that those now criticising Chairman COKA had been comfortable with the leadership approach of his predecessor.

According to him, Chairman Wontumi exercised considerable control over party affairs in the Ashanti Region and was particularly protective of the region, even engaging in disagreements with the party’s General Secretary over issues concerning the region.

He argued that the same standard should apply to Chairman COKA, urging party executives to allow him to perform his duties without what he described as unnecessary distractions.

“Those who now want to dictate to Chairman COKA were very okay with Chairman Wontumi’s territorial leadership,” he stated.

He added that Chairman Wontumi had treated the Ashanti Region as his territory and insisted that what was considered acceptable under his leadership should not become a source of controversy under COKA.

“What is good for Wontumi is good for COKA,” Ofosu Nkansah maintained.

The petition and the subsequent public commentary highlight growing disagreements over leadership, representation and decision-making within the Ashanti Regional branch of the NPP.

The controversy also raises questions about the relationship between regional party leadership and established constitutional procedures governing the party’s internal administration.