A coalition comprising Asante Youth and Market Queens in the Ashanti Region is escalating its efforts to urge the Asanteman Council to ban NPP regional chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, from the Manhyia Palace.
The coalition alleges that Wontumi has shown significant disrespect to the Golden Stool and accuses him of denigrating the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during the vetting of parliamentary aspirants.
The NPP stalwart made headlines early last week after he reportedly declared that he had formed his own Kingdom, making him a more powerful establishment than the Asante monarch. The report also said he [Wontumi] could speak his mind to the King when he disagreed with him on issues.
But the Asante group says it finds Wontumi’s behaviour unacceptable and is demanding an unqualified apology from him to the occupant of the Golden Stool.
“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”, spokesperson for the group Amaning Kwarteng stated at a press conference on Wednesday (17 January).
“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”, he said.
Meanwhile, Asaase News gathers that the attention of the national leadership of the governing party has been drawn to the development and is taking steps to resolve the issue.
Even before his fate is determined the embattled Regional Chairman is fighting off the claims. Wontumi in a statement described the reports as a deliberate attempt by certain factions within his party and opponent media houses to tarnish his hard-won reputation.
“I would like to place on the record that the story is false, malicious and calculated attempt by some elements to pitch the ruling party and my good self against the Asantehene, for reasons best known to them”, the statement said in part.
“I therefore urge party faithful and the good people of Asanteman to respectfully, disregard this and treat it with the contempt it deserves”, the statement further stated.
Reporting by Jonathan Ofori, Manhyia Palace, Ashanti Region
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