The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama for forgiveness, saying any critical statements he made in the past were driven by partisan duty.
According to Chairman Wontumi, his comments against President Mahama were made at a time when Mahama was a political opponent and he was actively campaigning for the NPP.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with 1957 News, Wontumi said that now that Mahama is President, his posture has changed, stressing the need for mutual respect and democratic continuity.
“If I meet Mahama, he is our president. At the time he was contesting, I had to work for my party. But now he is our president. What I will tell him is that just as Akufo-Addo handed over power to him peacefully, he should also hand over to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia when the time comes,” he stated.
Chairman Wontumi emphasised that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s peaceful transfer of power set a democratic example that should be upheld in future political transitions.
He acknowledged that political competition sometimes leads to harsh rhetoric and said he was prepared to apologise if his actions had offended the President.
“As humans, we are not above asking for forgiveness. If I have offended him in any way—willingly or unwillingly—I am not too big to say I am sorry,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi has announced his intention to contest for the NPP’s national chairmanship position, saying his ambition is rooted in service to the party.
He said his focus would be on strengthening the party’s structures and working toward recapturing power in the 2028 general elections.
