The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ike Apau Gyasi, has made a strong case for the retention of Bernard Antwi Boasiako as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Hon Apau Gyasi who was speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV/Radio in a late afternoon political talk show programme in Kumasi on Monday said Chairman Wontumi as Mr Antwi Boasiako is fondly called has the pedigree to guarantee victory for the NPP in the next election. .
“His monumental contributions to the party in meeting its objective became manifest during the campaign period ahead of the 2020 election so it is appropriate to retain him to continue his good works.” He told Oheneba Nana Asiedu, host of the programme.
According to Hon Apau Gyasi, Chairman Wontumi has the clout and the right political savvy as well as the needed skill to brighten the chances of the NPP in the 2024 elections if he is retained.
The New Juaben MCE who is also making a lot of waves in the political terrain in the New Juaben Municipality also commented on the on-going nation- wide fact finding tour being undertaken by some national executives of the NPP as” very timely.”
According to him, the tour will enable the National Executives to gather a first hand information of the factors that did not help the NPP to amass the needed votes in the December election.
“It is a reality that some party members at the grass roots are aggrieved. So getting to the bottom of the causes of their grievances by going to them will ensure party cohesion. It will also rekindle energy at the grass roots.” The MCE noted.
Hon Apau Gyasi therefore called on all well meaning party members to support the efforts of the national leaders in the fact finding tour so that the objective set would be met in the interest of the great elephant party.
Throwing more light on factors that contributed to the poor showing by some candidates in the party’s strong holds, he said “monitization of the process of electing Parliamentary candidates dominates those factors.”
“Using money to entice people to vote for a particular candidate, in order words , embarking on a Vote buying spree by some wealthy party members though they are not considered as the true choice of the majority of the people denied us some safe seats like Ayensuano, Akwatia and Asuogyaman. There are so many places we could have won but for the fact that we failed to appreciate the dynamics we lost so we have to learn from our mistakes.”
Hon Apau Gyasi emphasized that fears being expressed in certain quarters that if the NPP makes the process of electing parliamentary candidates too open will be to its disadvantage because the NDC can infiltrate the ranks of the NPP should be ignored.
The surest way to elect the truly people’s representatives is to level the playing ground and make whoever is the people’s choice have an advantage to win the candidacy.” He noted.
He continued, “We have to be radical in opening up the process by perfecting the existing system because monitization has been our nemesis and will continue to dog our steps if we stick to the old order because those not qualified will continue to sail through to create a big programme for all of us.”