Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, has credited the establishment of Wontumi Communications with helping the party secure victory in the 2020 general elections despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking in an interview with Kwaku Dawuro on Movement TV, Wontumi said restrictions on movement and public gatherings forced the NPP to rethink its campaign strategy ahead of the elections.
According to him, the pandemic made traditional political campaigning extremely difficult, prompting him to establish Wontumi Communications as an alternative platform to reach voters across the country.
“In 2020, because of COVID-19, campaigning became difficult. That was how Wontumi TV/ Radio was established to continue campaigning electronically when there was a ban on movement,” he stated.
Wontumi said the media platform became a crucial tool for promoting the achievements of the Akufo-Addo administration and communicating the NPP’s message to voters at a time when face-to-face campaigning had been severely restricted.
He argued that the circumstances surrounding the 2020 election made the NPP’s victory particularly remarkable, noting that many incumbent governments around the world were voted out of office during the pandemic.
“Almost 80 percent of incumbent presidents across the world lost power during that period, yet President Akufo-Addo won the election,” he said.
The NPP chairman maintained that Wontumi TV/ Radio played a significant role in keeping the party connected with voters and countering opposition narratives throughout the campaign period.
Beyond political communication, he revealed that the platform was also used to provide support to citizens affected by the pandemic.
“I even sat on television and sent money to Ghanaians from my own resources,” Wontumi disclosed.