The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has publicly apologised to President John Dramani Mahama over what he described as inappropriate comments made during the peak of partisan political campaigning.
Speaking in an interview with 1957 News, Chairman Wontumi acknowledged President Mahama as the duly elected leader of Ghana and expressed regret over remarks he admitted were influenced by the intense pressures of electoral politics.
“He is our president. When he was contesting the election, I had to work for my party. If I meet him, I will greet him, and I am sure he will hand over to Dr Bawumia in 2029 just as Akufo-Addo did for him in 2025,” he stated.
In a further display of contrition, the outspoken political figure conceded that political actors sometimes exceed acceptable limits in their public utterances, particularly during election periods marked by heightened emotions and rivalry.
“We are all human and sometimes we go overboard, so if I have offended him, I recognise it and apologise to him by saying I am sorry,” Chairman Wontumi added.
Beyond the apology, Chairman Wontumi expressed strong confidence in the New Patriotic Party’s chances of returning to power in the 2028 general elections. According to him, the party remains well-positioned to reclaim the presidency under the leadership of former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
He anchored his optimism on what he described as recurring patterns in Ghana’s democratic history, where political power has often alternated between major parties after a single presidential term.
Chairman Wontumi argued that Ghanaians would ultimately assess governance performance and make decisions that favour stability, experience, and policy continuity, qualities he believes the NPP still embodies.
In a significant political development, Chairman Wontumi has also declared his intention to contest the position of National Chairman of the NPP, setting the stage for what is expected to be a keenly contested internal race ahead of the 2028 elections.
In a statement dated February 4, he described the party as being at a “critical juncture” following recent electoral setbacks and called for leadership that is firm, principled, and capable of restoring unity within the party.
According to him, the future success of the NPP will depend on strong internal cohesion, discipline, and a renewed commitment to grassroots engagement across all regions of the country.
He stressed that rebuilding trust among party supporters and strengthening internal structures would be key to preparing the NPP for electoral victory in 2028.
Chairman Wontumi’s apology to President Mahama marks a notable shift in tone from the typically combative rhetoric associated with Ghana’s partisan politics. His public show of remorse, coupled with renewed confidence in the NPP’s future and his ambition to lead the party at the national level, signals an important moment as political actors reposition ahead of the next electoral cycle.
As internal party dynamics unfold, his bid for national chairmanship is expected to generate significant debate within the NPP and shape the party’s strategic direction in the years leading to the 2028 polls.
