The Director of Political Affairs at the Presidency, Manaf Ibrahim has accused the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Chairman Wontumi and the Secretary, Sam Pyne of taking ‘bribe’ from his rival to bar him from contesting in the upcoming New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) parliamentary primaries at Asawase Constituency.

In a resolution sighted by MyNewsGh.com on Sunday August 18,2019, the Ashanti Regional disciplinary committee of the NPP unanimously suspended Manaf Ibrahim from the party indefinitely for flouting portions of the party’s election regulation set out thereby automatically barring him from contesting in the upcoming parliamentary primaries in the Asawase constituency.

In a reaction on Kumasi-based Pure FM with Kwame Adinkra monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Manaf Ibrahim accused Chairman Wontumi and Sam Pyne of going for something to champion an agenda hence, the resolution to suspend him so he doesn’t contest in the primaries.

“Kwame, why are they afraid of a contest? I keep saying if they have no fears they should let us vote. If their candidate is popular the election outcome will determine.

From the onset, they have used all means to get me to rescind on my decision but it didn’t work. Even on the day of my vetting, they sent a national officer to beg me to reconsider my decision as they will soon divide the Asawase constituency and give me the other side unopposed but I told them no, I don’t want that, that’s not where I come from. Taking me out of the party means taking thousands out and I am really disturbed about this decision.”

“I blame Chairman Wontumi and Sam Pyne for this. They have gone for something from the other people and fighting their battles for them.” He said.

Manaf further stressed that, his contender Hon. Alidu Seidu (MCE for Asokore Mampong) cannot secure the seat for the NPP in 2020 and it will be a great mistake if the party goes ahead to let him run opposed in the primaries.

Asked if he would consider going as an independent candidate, he remarked that, he is representing the interest of a group of people who wants him to lead the constituency and save it from the mess it is in now so if they impress on him to run as an independent candidate, he would consider.

Manaf Ibrahim lost to Hon. Alidu Seidu in the NPP’s parliamentary primaries in 2016. The latter failed to secure the parliamentary seat for the NPP in the general election as the then incumbent MP, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed secured his seat again for the NDC by a landslide victory margin.

Bernard Antwi Bosiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi who is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP has since vowed to snatch the seat for the NPP in the upcoming 2020 elections.