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It is public knowledge that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, a.k.a Chairman Wontumi, was one of the key figures for the by-election, particularly, in terms of strategy.

Wontumi, who had won the Kumawu by-election as the party’s chairman of the region, was quickly co-opted to lead the campaign, and was paired with the parliamentary candidate, Charles Opoku. The dynamics changed to the NPP’s favour once Wontumi joined the campaign.

Exactly a week before the by-election, the constituency chairman for Nhyiaeso, Chairman Geokad and the former constituency chairman for Fomena, Akwasi Nti, who are known avowed anti-Wontumi persons in Ashanti, launched a strong smear campaign against Wontumi at Assin North. It is believed that, the thunderous call by the NPP members at Assin North on Wontumi to be the next National Chairman of the party infuriated these two to go after his person.

Wontumi got angry upon claims that the General Secretary, Justin Kodua, had a hand in the conduct of the two. Wontumi nearly abandoned the project, and returned to Kumasi. His passion and dedication for the Assin North project waned.

The question therefore was; why should the General Secretary bypass the Adansi constituencies to pick a constituency chairman all the way from Nhyiaeso, as well as pick a former constituency chairman who got suspended for creating confusion in his constituency? Why these two out of the 47 constituency chairmen and the numerous other former constituency chairmen?

People are of the view that, if you need one of your key men for the by-election, Wontumi, to remain focused, you don’t have to distract his attention by involving these two persons who have vowed to pick a bone with Wontumi everywhere their paths cross.