The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has washed its hands off two of its loudest regional chairmen, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly called Chairman Wontumi, and Kwame Baffoe Abronye alias Abronye DC.
In a strongly worded press release signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong on Sunday, September 28, 2025, the NPP’s national leadership distanced itself from both men, calling on members and the general public to ignore recent statements made by these regional chairmen, insisting that their remarks do not reflect the official position of the party.
“The National Leadership of the New Patriotic Party urges the public and its stakeholders to disregard recent public pronouncements by the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, and the Bono Regional Chairman, Mr. Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, as their statements do not represent the ideals and practices of the party” the statement reads.
With the race to choose a new flagbearer heating up, the party’s national leadership says discipline, transparency, and unity will guide the internal process, not personal comments.
The Controversial Remarks
Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, better known as Wontumi, and Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, popularly called Abronye DC, both made statements that shook confidence in the party’s upcoming presidential primaries.
Wontumi reportedly alleged that the date chosen for the primaries, January 31, 2026, was designed to favour a particular aspirant. Around the same time, Abronye allegedly boasted that he personally compiles the polling station album in Bono Region and could stop certain people from voting.
These remarks quickly spread in political circles and on social media. For a party already preparing for a heated flagbearer contest, such remarks were enough to stir unease.
However, the NPP party quickly disregarded these remarks. The leadership assured party members that the compilation of polling station albums follows strict compliance procedures. At the appropriate time, the National Secretariat will issue clear and transparent guidelines to ensure integrity, credibility, and fairness at every stage.
Responding to Wontumi’s claim about the date of the primaries, the party explained that the decision was made after extensive discussions by the National Council, the highest decision-making body between national conferences.
“Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako has been heard alleging that the decision to hold the Party’s presidential primaries on January 31, 2026, was calculated to favour a particular aspirant. The Party affirms that this assertion is unfounded.
The National Council exhaustively deliberated and took the decision in the Party’s supreme and strategic interest. Given the caliber of the members of the National Council, no individual can manipulate or influence a decision in his or her favour.
The decision to hold an early congress is intended solely to provide the Party with sufficient time and strategic advantage to reorganize, reposition, and recapture power in 2028”, the release stated.
Wontumi Fires Back
But Chairman Wontumi has not taken the party’s brush-off lightly. In a long response, issued on the same day, he rejected claims that he attacked the National Council or questioned its decisions.
“My attention has been drawn to a statement issued by the General Secretary for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Justin Kodua Frimpong. As a senior member of the party, I would want to set the records straight before his statement forcefully paints me as an antagonist of our beloved party,” Wontumi wrote.
He explained that his comments were only a reflection on the history of the NPP and how it could prepare better for the 2028 elections.
Drawing lessons from the late 1990s, Wontumi recalled how former President John Agyekum Kufuor was given two years to campaign after winning the NPP’s 1998 primaries, which gave him an advantage over his opponent, John Atta Mills.
“To link this to our current situation, Dr. Bawumia is looking for 9% to win the NPP the 2028 election. My position as Ashanti Regional Chairman places me closer to the people who tell me about the direction the party should be considering in recapturing power. The National Council of the NPP never featured in any of the statements I made,” he argued.
Wontumi accused the General Secretary of falling for propaganda that twisted his words.
“It is unfortunate Mr. Justin Kodua Frimpong has fallen for a propaganda seeking to misconstrue my statement. There is no justice in the way he has gone about the matter.
In this era where saboteurs can easily use tools such as Al to destroy good people, Mr. Kodua Frimpong could have simply reached out to me and gotten a full understanding of my statements before issuing a statement that is far from the truth.” he said.
