‘Buying nomination forms for polling stations is not to influence votes’ – Chairman Wontumi

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party is defending his decision to buy nomination forms en bloc, for all Polling Station Executive aspirants in the region.

There are concerns that this act of Mr. Antwi-Boasiako could go against his opponents.

However, he has shot down criticisms that the move could influence delegates and give him unfair advantage over other contestants in the regional chairmanship race. 

He told JoyNews in an interview on Wednesday, that his re-election as Regional Chairman of the NPP’s ‘electoral World Bank’ has already been decided by delegates based on his achievements for the party.

According to Chairman Wontumi, he has financially supported the organization of polling station elections across the country since 2012.

“It has been a norm that Chairman Wontumi, every four years, I buy forms for the Polling Stations and I buy for the constituencies. Even some, I buy for different regions. Last four years, I bought for Bono and for the Northern region and Volta. So if I am a player, then what is my interest in the other regions,” he quizzed.

At least, four people, including Chairman Wontumi have declared their intentions to vie for the position of the Regional Chairman of NPP in the Ashanti Region.

They are; Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, the Constituency Chairman of the NPP in the Afigya Kwabre South Constituency and current Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, former Member of Parliament for Ejisu and Deputy Roads Minister and former Ghana’s Ambassador to South Africa, George Ayisi-Boateng.

Mr. Antwi-Boasiako insists his love and support for the party know no bounds and that will speak for him.

“I also have supported the National. In 2015, when we were going to do the national elections, that time, we were in opposition, I gave them GHC1 billion. Today it is GHC100,000. I’m just pleading; if anybody who thinks he is going to compete with me have money to donate,  I think it is time. If you want to compete, it is about what you have done and what you want to do. Donation is different and going to serve is also different,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako has promided that he will support any of his opponents who gets elected as the Regional Chairman of the NPP.

 “If we go and God does not give it to me, anybody who has the opportunity, I will support the person. I am born an NPP; my blood, my bones, my hair; my nails, my everything, my eyes, my mouth-everything is NPP. NPP is bigger than me,” he assured.