A campaign claiming that 37 Members of Parliament from the Ashanti Region have endorsed Lexy Abena Boahene for the New Patriotic Party’s deputy regional secretary position is facing a counter-narrative, with supporters of her main contender, lawyer Kingsley Bonsu Kyeretwie, insisting that the race remains wide open.

Kyeretwie’s camp says claims of overwhelming parliamentary support for Boahene should not be interpreted as a reflection of the views of delegates who will ultimately decide the contest at the party’s regional elections on 15 August.

Supporters of the lawyer say he has also attracted significant backing among party members and grassroots organisers across the region, describing the contest as a competitive race rather than a foregone conclusion.

They argue that MPs are not the only constituency whose views matter in the election and that the decisive votes will come from delegates drawn from the party’s organisational structures across the Ashanti Region.

The counter-campaign comes after a publication said 37 Ashanti Region MPs had thrown their support behind Boahene, describing the backing as a major boost to her bid to become the region’s first female deputy regional secretary.

Kyeretwie’s supporters, however, say the endorsement claim should be treated in context and should not be used to suggest that delegates have already made their choice.

The lawyer has been campaigning on his own record, organisational experience and capacity to contribute to rebuilding the party’s structures ahead of the 2028 general elections.

His supporters say his legal background, understanding of party administration and engagement with grassroots members make him a strong candidate for the position.

They also point to what they describe as growing support from constituency-level party activists, arguing that the deputy secretary position requires someone capable of working across constituencies and translating regional decisions into effective grassroots organisation.

The contest has become one of the closely watched races in the Ashanti NPP elections, with delegates expected to choose a new regional executive team as the party seeks to strengthen its organisation following its defeat in the 2024 general elections.

For Kyeretwie’s camp, the election is therefore less about endorsements and more about the ability of candidates to win the confidence of delegates and deliver results after taking office.

Boahene is campaigning on what she describes as innovation, reliability and impact, while Kyeretwie’s supporters are urging delegates to assess candidates on their experience, organisational capacity and ability to work with the party’s structures.

The competing narratives underscore the intensity of the campaign ahead of Saturday’s vote.