Executives of the Manhyia North constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have described as “inhumane and unfair” treatment being meted out to them by their regional executives regarding their upcoming parliamentary primary.
They say the actions and inactions of the Ashanti regional Chairman of the party, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, smacks of bias against some of the executives in the constituency.
To this end, they have called on the national executives of the party to intervene quickly and stop their regional chairman from taking unilateral decisions which are undoubtedly against majority of the current polling station executives.
At a press conference in the constituency office in Kumasi recently, the executives expressed disgust at the brutality some heavily built men supposedly hired by their regional chairman meted out to some polling station executives who had gone to the party office to make enquiries about their upcoming primary.
“The attitude of the regional chairman gives grounds for suspicion of his hidden personal interest in the elections which he would do anything to realise. Indeed he openly declared his decision to hire macho men to bully and intimidate us during the conduct of the elections.
“…the aforementioned behaviour of the regional chairman does not speak well of him and the party and requires swift intervention from the national executives of the party.
“Chairman Wontumi must allow the committee the required independence and desist from usurping their functions and mandate,” Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Patricia Arthur, pointed out.
She explained that the party hierarchy set up a committee chaired by Mr. Peter Mac Manu that came up with a roadmap towards the re-election of some affected polling stations in the constituency that was agreed by all factions in the constituency, adding that she was surprised the regional chairman could unilaterally change the dates.
“We are however determined as faithful party men that no individual is allowed to manipulate the affairs of the party to satisfy his selfish interest,” she noted, adding that “we are ready to resist any oppressor’s rule.”
Special Assistant of the Manhyia North Member of Parliament, Victor Osei Poku, later told this reporter that the numerous changes in the dates for the parliamentary primary in the constituency and the brouhaha surrounding it were due to a plot to ensure that the MP loses the primary.
“But my brother, what they do not know is that it is God who crowns kings and not man; they have failed severally and they shall continue to fail once God has crowned Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwah as the MP. They can never defeat him unless God permits,” he stated strongly.
