Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, has dismissed suggestions that his spoken English should be a determining factor in assessing his suitability for higher office within the party, insisting that effective leadership goes beyond language proficiency.
Speaking in an interview with Kwaku Dawuro on Movement TV, Wontumi argued that politics is about delivering results, mobilizing supporters, and winning elections rather than impressing people with academic credentials or polished English.
According to him, critics have often focused on his educational background and communication style while overlooking his contributions to the growth of the NPP.
“My inability to speak better English does not disqualify me,” he stated.
Wontumi maintained that despite the criticism, he is capable of communicating effectively with people from all walks of life, including world leaders.
“I can even communicate effectively when I meet Donald Trump,” he said, arguing that communication is not solely about speaking perfect English but about ensuring that a message is clearly understood.
The NPP stalwart noted that the party already has numerous highly educated professionals, including lawyers, engineers, and other experts, and therefore should not reduce leadership contests to academic qualifications alone.
“NPP already has lawyers, engineers, and many elite people. What needs to be done is the job, and that is where I come in,” he said.
“Even in academia and other professions, everyone has a specific role to play. A doctor cannot go to court and defend a case simply because he is educated. The same applies in politics,” he explained.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman argued that elections are won by leaders who understand ordinary voters and can connect with grassroots supporters.
“We cannot win elections with education alone. It is about those who understand the language of the people. It is about grassroots people,” he said.
Wontumi, who revealed that he has spent about 20 years serving the NPP as a constituency and regional chairman, said his record demonstrates that electoral success depends more on practical political work than on academic titles.
The comments come as he positions himself for a bid for the NPP national chairmanship, a role he believes requires a proven ability to organize, mobilize, and lead the party to electoral victory.
“It’s not about leaders who sit in comfort. Politics is about getting the job done,” Wontumi told Kwaku Dawuro.