By Akosua Frema Frempong
The Kumasi Traditional Council has cleared the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, of any wrongdoing against the Asantehene and Manhyia Palace.
The Traditional Council summoned the NPP Regional Chairman after it was alleged that he made some derogatory remarks against Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
According to our Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Akosua Frema Frempong, Chairman Wontumi was exonerated after his accuser, Kokosohene, was advised to abstain from bringing political issues to the Manhyia Palace.
Members of the Kumasi Traditional Council were summoned to a crucial meeting on January 29, 2024, to decide the fate of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
He had been summoned by the second-highest decision-making body of the Asante Kingdom, whose membership is limited to traditional leaders.
Members of the Kumasi Traditional Council on January 22 directed the NPP, led by its General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, to produce Chairman Wontumi to appear before them over alleged derogatory remarks against Asantehene.
It follows a confrontation between Mr. Antwi Boasiako and the Kokosohene, Nana Kwaku Dua, who is also Otumfuo’s Obremponhene, at the vetting of parliamentary aspirants in the Ashanti region.
Though Chairman Wontumi has denied the accusations, he was invited by the traditional council for a hearing, an invitation he failed to honor on health grounds.
Subsequently, the NPP national leadership, which appeared before the Council to plead for more time, was directed to ensure that Chairman Wontumi made an appearance within one week. Appearing before the Kumasi Traditional Council, Chairman Wontumi denied ever making disparaging remarks against the Asantehene but admitted to invoking a curse on the Kokosohene.
The Divisional heads of the Kumasi Traditional Council took turns to advise Chairman Wontumi to accord chiefs in the region the utmost respect and dignity and be mindful of his utterances whenever he mounted a political platform. They also advised Kokosohene, Nana Kwaku Dua, not to indulge in partisan politics since the constitution bars chiefs in this respect.
In his ruling, the Acting President of the Kumasi Traditional Council, Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia emphasised that the name of the overload of Asante should be revered and not used casually. He advised chiefs under the Kumasi Traditional Council to desist from commenting on the issue since it has been struck out.
The Kumasi Traditional Council directed Chairman Wontumi to immediately reverse the curse invoked on Kokosohene, irrespective of his reasons for making the pronouncement.
