Senior members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are preparing to offer a formal apology to President John Dramani Mahama over offensive comments made by the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The move comes amid an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which is probing Mr. Boasiako for alleged financial crimes, including money laundering and fraud.
Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, disclosed the planned apology during an interview on Channel One TV’s Face to Face programme on Tuesday. He suggested that political motivations may be driving the investigation, placing responsibility at the doorstep of the former president.
“For Chairman Wontumi’s case, we’re going to beg,” Dr. Afriyie said. “The hand behind this is bigger than the people who run EOCO and the intelligence agencies. I will put it at the doorstep of President Mahama.”
He acknowledged that Chairman Wontumi had made inappropriate and personal remarks in videos circulated before the 2024 general elections and confirmed that senior NPP figures, including himself, had confronted him about the comments. “We told him he crossed the line,” Dr. Afriyie added, noting that Wontumi has agreed to apologise.
The NPP lawmaker stressed that while political rivalry is expected in a democratic setting, personal attacks based on unsubstantiated claims should not be tolerated. He urged humility from party leaders and called for efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Chairman Wontumi was arrested and detained by EOCO before being granted bail on May 28, with two justified sureties and a GH¢50 million bond. Although his legal team met the bail conditions by May 30, his release was delayed due to a motion filed at the High Court in Accra seeking a review of the bail terms.
His attorneys, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, later withdrew the motion on June 2, clearing the path for Wontumi’s release.
While Mr. Boasiako’s legal troubles remain ongoing, the NPP’s planned apology to Mr. Mahama marks an unusual moment of political conciliation, as party leaders attempt to mitigate fallout from the controversy and distance the party from Wontumi’s personal conduct.
Source:TheDotNews