Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia North says New Patriotic Party (NPP) Regional Chairman, Antwi Boasiako popularly called Chairman Wontumi was not to blame for slapping him and assaulting his constituency secretary.

According to Collins Owusu Amankwaah, Chairman Wontumi was acting on rumours by the MP's challenger for the Manhyia North parliamentary seat, Nana Osei Bamfo, that the lawmaker was instructing people to go round polling stations with cutlasses to terrorise registrants. 

In his first public comment about what happened, he told Joy News' Erastus Asare Donkor that he loves his Regional Chairman and won't want to hold any grudge against him when there is an election to win. 

"We have been best friends and I cannot blame him for what happened as investigations have revealed he is not to blame for the incident," Mr. Amanwaah said.

"I love my Regional Chairman and I love the Party. I have stood through thick and thin to rally behind the Party and I have been so committed and dedicated to the cause of the Party, having served in various capacities," he added.

Mr. Collins Owusu Amankwah was slapped and his constituency secretary, Felix Ibrahim was beaten by the Regional Chairman during the Limited Biometric Voters Registration Exercise on May 1, in Krofrom.

The incident was reported to the Kumasi Police Headquarters and Chairman Wontumi arrested. 

The MP told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show after the arrest amidst ensuing vigil at the Kumasi Police Headquarters by teeming party supporters that his mother begged him to drop the charges after receiving threatening calls.

He said anything could happen to his mother if he refuses to drop the case and Wontumi was granted bail by the Asokwa District Magistrate Court after the MP instructed his lawyers to drop the case.

"I have made up my mind not to comment on the issue again because the matter has been referred to the elders of the Party and we have gone far as far as out of court settlement is concerned," Mr. Amanwaah said. 

Although he confirmed that indeed he was slapped by Wontumi, he said he does not want to delve into the nitty-gritty of what happened on that day. 

"I don't wish that my party will be int he media for the bad reason. All along it has been my desire to work with the parties structures so as to achieve our target," the MP said.

The lawmaker is unhappy with people 'manufacturing their own story' to create the impression that at all is not well with the Party in the constituency. 

He refuted claims by some supporters that he is a mole for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for which reasons he has lost popularity. 

Though a Kumasi Magistrate Court has scheduled June 1, to conclude on an out of court settlement, Collins Owusu Amankwaah says his concentration is now on winning 80 percent votes for his party in the upcoming elections.