Proverbs 22:26: Manhyia v Wontumi 

If there is any political party that will have clashes with the Asanteman Kingdom, it should not have been the New Patriotic Party.

Asanteman led by its kings have been principled ever since this kingdom was founded. It was through one of its principled ways that the National Liberation Movement (NLM) was founded on September 19, 1954. Initially, a CPP stronghold, Asanteman turned against Nkrumah when it found that he was not been genuine, principled and truthful to the state.

Nkrumah came and started imposing chiefs on the people, with some not even in the line of succession. This, Asanteman would not accept.

Democracy gave every adult, the right to choose who should lead them. Nkrumah on the other hand, began imposing legislators on the people. This, Asanteman would not accept.

The Ashanti region at that time covered the current Ashanti, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions and it was the most populated region in Ghana and yet Nkrumah made sure fewer constituencies were created for the region. This was not acceptable to Asanteman.

Nkrumah promised in a campaign message to increase the producer price of cocoa, but after he won elections, he decreased the price and hedged it over four years. With the bulk of cocoa farmers coming from Asanteman, the people were very much disappointed and Asanteman did not take lightly to this.

Out these reasons, majority of CPP members, including political giants like Victor Owusu, R.R. Amponsah and Joe Appiah, defected to join the National Liberation Movement, which had the blessing of the king of Asanteman. In October 1957, the NLM joined five other parties to form the United Party (UP).

The UP and its descendants, the Progress Party, the Popular Front Party and the New Patriotic Party became the political soul of Asanteman, who stood firmly behind them through thick and thin.

Rawlings attempted to break up the UP Tradition in more ways than one but failed. The only way to break up Asanteman was to break up businesses and industries owned by Asantes, he thought. Because murdering of prominent Asantes, and dehumanising of chiefs, could not break the Asantes bondwith the UP Tradition, Rawlings attacked and collapsed businesses and industries belonging to Asantes.

Asante owned businesses and industries crushed by the Rawlings’ administration included those belonging to Appiah-Menka, Dr. Safo-Adu, Edward Osei Boakye, B.A. Mensah and Kwabena Darko among others.

In 1992, Ashanti region proved its love and loyalty to the UP Tradition and became the only region that voted for the New Patriotic Party and has consistently been voting massively for the NPP. That Ashanti region and Asanteman has remained very faithful to the NPP, is an understatement.

Unfortunately, this era of NPP administration is not returning that gesture, taking things for granted that no matter what happens, at least 70% of Ashanti region will vote for the party’s presidential candidate.

In Proverbs 22: 26, the Word of God says, “train up the way a child must go and when he grows, he will not depart from it.”

In 2014, a young man called Bernard Antwi Boasiako, then aged 36, became the Ashanti regional chairman of the NPP, when he beat Hon Kwame Osei Prempeh by 559 against 209 votes.

Calling himself, Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti regional chairman, displays an unorthodox approach when addressing issues. This was always seen as a sign of disrespect, but as he never attacked the top hierarchy of the party, the elders seem to always applaud and maybe, even cheer him on.

A position that was once held by very eminent gentlemen, like Dr. Kwame Donkor Fordwor and Appiah Menka, should be seen to be always occupied by people with such character. Unfortunately, the elders of NPP could not put Wontumi on a leash and were seemly seen to be urging him on as he descended heavily and crudely on persons perceived to be their “enemies.”

Wontumicould flout party rules and no one would call him to order. But let another party member do same and he or she will be lucky not to be suspended. Suddenly, it was like Wontumi was the national chairman of the NPP. Some of the things he did and said were wrong and he should have received suspension, but no one dared to attack him.

He had the support from those behind the scene who want to make NPP, their property. Wontumi could slap a Member of Parliament, Hon Collins Owusu Amankwa (Manhyia North), and get away with it.

The NPP Council of Elders were not able to invite him and demand from him why disciplinary measures should not be taken against him for his criminal assault on a state legislator.

Whenever one looks on and supports the waywardness of his child, one day that child would bring problems home.

So it iswhen, it was alleged that Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi believing he is king over all, dared the One Who Should Not Be Dared; the King Who Is Acknowledged As Such By The Rest Of The World;the King Who Is Not Boastful Or Proud But The Air Around Him Always Blows Out Power And Authority, the Occupant Of The Golden Stool, the One And Only Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II.

Wontumi was said to have challenged the authority of the Asantehene, by making pronouncements, which is similar to some things he used to say in the NPP circles.

When Manhyia heard this and anger started energising itself from the Palace, the Kumasi Traditional Council and the whole of Asanteman, suddenly all the elders of the NPP who may always benefit from Wontumi’s diatribes were now missing. No one is standing on the same platform with him, any more. I guess, they must now be scolding him and saying, “but you also went too far.”

The NPP had to push its general secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, to face a council of very angry chiefs led by the state warlord, the Bantamahene,Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI,and pleaded that by Monday January 29, 2024, the party will deliver Wontumi.

This should not have happened, because if there is any region that the NPP should disrespect, then it should not be the Ashanti region. If the party accords respect to traditional leaders and regions all over the country, it beats the mind that the party could lead a member on and allow him todisrespect the Golden Stool. One cannot claim to own a kingdom in Asanteman since that is an affront to the Asantehene.

The New Patriotic Party is no longer like it was before. The respect and discipline that was the hallmark of the party in the 90’s and early 2000’s has now disappeared and look like going extinct.

The powers-that-be who hide in the background and push members on to do their dirty jobs, should know the disservice they are doing to the party in general and those members in particular.

In recent days, personalities like Paul Adom-Otchere and Hon Sylvester Tetteh could come on air and speak like polling station social commentators, spewing insults in the most uncultured and uncouth manner on people of higher standing like the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Dampare, the Special Persecutor, Kissi Agyebeng and internationally renowned cardiologist, Dr. Frimpong Boateng.

Today, we have people in the NPP who feel they have godparents within the party so they can do and say whatever pleases them. Such people believe that the only way to win arguments is to lie, insult and use very abusive languages.

What is happening to Bernard AntwiBoasiako today, should be a great lesson to such characters in the party.

Wontumi crossed borders and entered into a territory which does not take such irresponsibility lightly and he is going to face the music. The lesson here is that, the NPP is not going to defend him, but rather it is going to hand him over to the “judge”, to be dealt with accordingly.

This should make those who are on the same tangent as Wontumi, to start thinking about themselves and know that whatever support they have in the party that energises them to do as they please, the party will not be there whenever they get into trouble.

It is about time that elders of party start repairing damages in the party. All those who urge the youth on, to misconduct themselves should bow their heads down in shame and repent their ways. They should endeavour to make their conducts good examples to the younger ones. They should be principled and decent and let people speak highly of themselves with respect.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, could violate sacred rules in the NPP Constitution and no one could call him to book. Not even the national chairman or NEC who have powers to take decisions for the party.In 2015, NEC overturned the decision of the highest decision-making body of party, the National Delegates Conference who in 2014, elected Paul Afoko, Sammy Crabbe and Kwabena Agyepong asnational chairman, 2^nd vice chairman and general secretary, and handed them suspension.

If the NEC can make such decisions, how come it could not tame members like Wontumi?

The NPP through Wontumi, has dishonoured the only region that is its stronghold. The Ashanti region and Asanteman has been slapped in the face by the very party they hold in high esteem. What will happen in December 2024? If only the elders of NPP had understood the wisdom in Proverbs 22: 26 and implemented it, this would not have happened.

Hon. Daniel Dugan