Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has hinted at the party’s contemplation of expanding the current delegates’ album across the board.
Boasiako revealed that discussions have taken place with the General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, aimed at enlarging the current album to mitigate issues that could potentially fracture the party.
Expressing his determination, Boasiako emphasized his intention to advocate for the inclusion of all card-bearing members of the party in voting for all internal elections. He disclosed this during an interview on his radio station, stating, “To be sincere, I am going to fight. I have talked to the General Secretary, and he agrees with me that every card-bearing member of our party should be allowed to vote in all our internal elections.”
Acknowledging support for this initiative within the party ranks, Boasiako affirmed, “He has accepted, and I know there are a lot of people in our party who also support this.”
This proposal isn’t new within the NPP. In December 2021, during the party’s annual delegates’ congress at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, various proposals, including the expansion of the party’s album, were discussed. Among the suggestions was one from former MP for Manhyia North Constituency, Collins Owusu Amankwah, advocating for the inclusion of all former MPs in the electoral college.
Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, a member of the Constitutional Review Committee of the party, assured that these proposals would be considered and could only be adopted by Congress.
Over time, concerns have arisen among party members regarding the exclusion of their names from the delegates’ list, leading to apathy. This issue came to a head during the Ejisu by-election, where former MP Kwabena Owusu Aduomi contested as an independent candidate, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s delegate selection process.
Similar concerns have been raised by aggrieved party supporters, particularly in the Ashanti Region. Instances such as the departure of the current 2nd Deputy Speaker, Andrews Asiamah, to contest as an independent candidate in the 2020 parliamentary elections highlight these grievances.
Furthermore, Kwasi Amofa Esq, a member of the legal team representing the NPP during the 2012 elections petition case at the Supreme Court, contested as an independent candidate for the Bekwai seat in the 2020 parliamentary elections, reflecting discontent within the party ranks.
Critics have accused party leadership of employing ‘mafia tactics’ in the delegate selection process. However, Chairman Wontumi refutes these claims, asserting his non-involvement in the selection of delegates.
Boasiako firmly believes that all card-bearing members of the party should participate in future internal elections, questioning the rationale behind their exclusion from crucial decision-making processes within the party.
