Bring Us Your ‘Sick’ Wontumi Even If In A Wheelchair …Manhyia Tells NPP

The NEW Patriotic Party (NPP) has been told to ensure that its Chairman for the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka ‘Wontumi’, shows up in person at the Manhyia Palace seat of the Asantehene, the Monarch of the Ashanti Kingdom, by next Monday, January 29, 2024, even if he is in wheelchair.

This strong directive from the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) was issued to the NPP in the Manhyia Palace on Monday January 22 after Wontumi, who had been summoned to the palace, failed to appear before the chiefs during their sitting.

NPP General Secretary, Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong, who led a Party delegation to the palace on Monday, informed the chiefs that Wontumi was not present as expected because he was unwell.
The General Secretary explained that it was not as though the Regional Chairman has intentionally decided to not honour the call of the powerful chiefs for him to avail himself.

Interestingly, the NPP Chief Scribe could not readily produce a medical report, to confirm that indeed Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka ‘Wontumi’ was indeed into feeling well.

While some of the chiefs at the palace described the NPP scribe’s assertion that Wontumi was sick as an excuse they find difficult to believe, others suggested Wontumi only wanted to dodge the chiefs, hence issuing sickness as an excuse.
“Wontumi should be here next Monday, even in wheelchair”, was the final ruling pronounced by the Bantamahene, Baffuor Owusu Amankwatia.
It is believed that the call on Wontumi to appear at Manhyia is in relation with recent reports that Chairman Wontumi has made disreputable comments about the revered King and done so in the presence of some 40 witnesses.

Chairman Wontumi has denied the allegations

In a related development, the chiefs also summoned Lawyer Maurice Ampaw to appear before them over some remarks he is reported to have made in reference to them.

The Asante chiefs further ordered the staff and management of Wontumi TV/Radio, who allowed Maurice Ampaw to use their network to make the said remarks, to appear before them on Monday.

Barely a fortnight ago, a coalition comprising the Asante Youth and Market Queens across the region staged a public protest and held a press conference to register their displeasure about the alleged disrespectful utterances Wontumi reportedly made against the Asantehene and called for his sanction and reprimand.

The two groups prayed all palaces and Royals of Asanteman to declare the NPP Chairman as persona non grata during any future official function or ceremony over the statements he is alleged to have made.

“In this regard, the Asante Youth wants to appeal to Manhyia Palace never to allow Wontumi to enter Manhyia Palace anytime an NPP delegation pays a courtesy call on the King until he publicly renders an unqualified apology to the King and Asanteman as a whole

“Perhaps if Chairman Wontumi wants to own his Kingdom he could do it outside the jurisdiction of the Ashanti Kingdom. We are, therefore, appealing to all paramount chiefs Divisional Chiefs and Sub-chiefs who pay allegiance to the Golden Stool never to grant Wontumi audience to their various palaces for grossly disrespecting the Golden Stool”, spokesperson for the Ashanti Youth group, Amaning Kwarteng stated at a press conference on Wednesday (17 January).

Wontumi’s Alleged Crime

As a reminder, Wontumi allegedly, blasphemed by uttering some words, The New Publisher would rather not repeat in cold print, against the Asantehene during the vetting of the various NPP parliamentary aspirants in the Ashanti Region on January 3, 2024.

The said unprintable words against the Asante King, reportedly, got the Kokosohene, Nana Kwaku Duah, infuriated so he angrily questioned the NPP chairman to withdraw the blasphemous statement and apologize but to no avail.

The case was then reported at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, and the office therefore invited Wontumi through the NPP General Secretary, Lawyer Justin Kodua to face Nananom.

Justin Kodua, according to published reports, called Wontumi and the Kokosohene in a conference call on phone to find ways to peacefully resolve the case but things did not work out as planned by the NPP General Secretary.