The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of orchestrating a deliberate distraction tactic by focusing public attention on the arrest and detention of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman. According to Richard Ahiagbah, the NPP’s National Communications Director, the NDC is using this incident as a smokescreen to divert attention from two pressing controversies: the appointment of Anne Sansa Daly to the board of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s use of a private jet for a recent medical trip. Ahiagbah insists that the NPP will revisit these issues once the matter of Chairman Wontumi’s bail is resolved.
The controversy surrounding Anne Sansa Daly’s appointment stems from questions surrounding her medical credentials. The NPP contends that her qualifications are questionable and warrant further investigation. This appointment, the NPP argues, has been conveniently overshadowed by the focus on Chairman Wontumi’s legal troubles. The NPP maintains that this is a deliberate attempt by the NDC to avoid scrutiny of a potentially flawed appointment process.
Furthermore, the NPP has criticized the Vice President’s use of a private jet, highlighting what they perceive as hypocrisy within the NDC. They argue that the NDC vehemently opposed the use of private jets by government officials while they were in opposition, yet now seem to condone the practice. This, according to the NPP, demonstrates a lack of principles and a disregard for previous promises made to the public. They believe this issue, too, has been deliberately sidelined by the attention given to Chairman Wontumi’s case.
Chairman Wontumi was arrested by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) on Tuesday, May 27, on allegations of financial crimes and causing financial loss to the state. He has been granted bail set at GHS50 million with two sureties. However, as of Monday, June 2, he remained in EOCO custody, having not yet fulfilled the bail conditions. This has prompted strong protests from the NPP, who claim the bail conditions are excessive and politically motivated.
The NPP views the timing of Wontumi’s arrest and the subsequent focus on his case as highly suspicious. They believe the NDC is exploiting this situation to deflect attention from the controversies surrounding Anne Sansa Daly’s appointment and the Vice President’s private jet travel. Ahiagbah’s statement indicates that the NPP intends to return to these issues once Wontumi’s legal situation is resolved, suggesting that they believe the public deserves answers and accountability on these matters. They further assert that the NDC’s attempts to divert attention will ultimately fail.
The NPP’s accusations point towards a broader political struggle between the two major parties in Ghana. The allegations of distraction tactics and hypocrisy highlight the deep-seated mistrust and the often-contentious nature of political discourse in the country. The NPP’s commitment to revisiting the issues of Anne Sansa Daly’s appointment and the Vice President’s private jet travel signals their intention to continue challenging the NDC’s actions and holding them accountable for what they perceive as inconsistencies and questionable decisions. This ongoing political battle is likely to continue to unfold in the public arena, with both sides vying for public support and attempting to shape the narrative in their favor.
