Asante-Boateng
Nana Akomea, spokesperson to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana’s campaign team to become the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has responded to the claim of disrespect by Member of Parliament for Asante Akim South, Kwaku Asante-Boateng.
In a video circulating online, Mr Asante-Boateng, a deputy minister of Railway Development announced his withdrawal of support for Dr. Bawumia in favour of Alan Kyerematen, citing disrespect from members of Bawumia’s campaign team.
Mr Asante-Boateng is joining his boss, John Peter Amewu, Minister for Railway Development to support the Alan Kyerematen campaign.
However, Nana Akomea says the deputy minister’s assertion was misplaced because he endorsed Dr Bawumia’s presidential bid when he took the microphone to welcome the vice president to the Constituency.
Nana Akomea however apologized to the deputy minister if he was offended by any action of the Bawumia campaign team, stating that he did not recognize him as he had left parliament before Asante-Boateng entered.
He explained that whenever the campaign bus stops at a constituency, there is usually a large welcoming group at the door, and those who get down before Bawumia have to quickly make their way through the crowd.
According to Nana Akomea, if he had known the MP, he would have made an effort to greet him.
He added that Asante-Boateng had given a speech endorsing Bawumia at the event, making his about-turn surprising.
“I have seen a video featuring one Hon David Asante-Boateng, Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem South, and some news portals reports on the video. The Hon David Asante-Boateng is heard in the video, announcing his withdrawal of support from Dr Bawumia in favour of Mr Alan Kyerematen. The reason he gave is that some members of Bawumia’s campaign team, including myself, Hon Isaac Osei and Hon Tony Karbo had disrespected him by not shaking his hand as we got down from the campaign bus.
“I left Parliament some time ago, and do not know by face many MPs who entered Parliament after 2012. Indeed the first time l saw Hon David Asante-Boateng was when he was introduced at the event.
Anytime the campaign bus stopped at a constituency, there is usually a big welcoming group of people gathered at the door of the bus, to welcome Dr Bawumia. Those of us who get down before Bawumia have to wade through the crowd quickly to pave way for him.
“In the process of rushing through the crowd, if l had known the MP, I would have made every effort to say hello and shake his hand.
At the event, after he had been introduced, the Hon David Asante-Boateng went on to give a resounding speech endorsing Dr Bawumia. It is therefore a complete surprise to see him in a video doing an about turn, because of an incident that happened BEFORE his speech endorsing Bawumia.
Be that as it may, l assure the Hon David Asante-Boateng, on behalf of Dr Bawumia ‘s campaign team, that there is no deliberate attempt by the team to disrespect him. And we respect his decision about whoever he chooses to support.”
This comes after Asante-Boateng had officially announced his decision to support Alan Kyerematen during the former trade minister’s cluster delegates durbar in the Ashanti region.
Asante-Boateng, a known supporter of Dr. Bawumia, cited disrespect from Bawumia’s campaign team as the reason for his switch.
He claimed that during Dr. Bawumia’s recent campaign tour to Juaso/Asante Akim South, members of Bawumia’s team refused to greet him despite being asked to welcome them. The MP felt disregarded and publicly ridiculed, leading him to cross over to Alan Kyerematen’s camp.
Asante-Boateng made it clear to the delegates that he could not be disrespected and followed simultaneously.
He declared his intention to support Kyerematen wholeheartedly, saying he would remain loyal to his own regardless of external circumstances.
By Vincent Kubi