Krobos advise New Juaben MP to retract tribal remarks, threats
The Chiefs and people of the Yilo Krobo and Manya Krobo traditional areas in the Eastern Region have advised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi, to immediately retract a tribal remark and threats of hostilities he made against the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, who is a Krobo.
‘’We want you to render an unqualified apology to the Eastern Regional Minister, the affected traditional authorities and the good people of Ghana. Refrain from making statements that promote division and instead champion unity and peaceful coexistence.
“If you fail to heed this advice, we shall activate lawful actions to draw national attention to what we consider backward and divisive comments coming from a Member of Parliament.”At a press conference, Nene Kweku Adamtey, the Regent of Adjikpo at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, described the recent
outburst by Mr Okyere Baafi, against the Eastern Regional Minister, who is a native of Kroboland, as unfortunate.
According to Nene Adamtey, the MP, recently on a radio station in Koforidua, openly made a statement that ‘’a Krobo Regional Minister cannot tell us in New Juaben what to do in our land in relation to a facility situated within Jackson Park in Koforidua’’.
Nene Adamtey who was accompnied by elders clad in red and black to the press conference, said as custodians of the culture and identity, they (the chiefs and the people) found such statements deeply unfortunate and unacceptable, and it had become necessary for the affected traditional area to address the issue because the MP was justifying his statement.
Tribal insinuations
“We are deeply concerned by the statements not just because of the tribal insinuations but also because of the seeming threats of hostility which do not reflect the spirit of unity, respect and peaceful coexistence that our community values.
“Such remarks threaten the harmony among diverse people of our region and undermine the progress we have made toward fostering mutual understanding, respect and peaceful coexistence.”
He said leadership at every level should be guided by the mandate of the office, not by ethnic background or tribal affiliation.
“To suggest otherwise is divisive, regressive and dangerous” he added.
Nene Adamtey condemned the statement as it had no place in modern-day dialogue.
He said no regional minister or public official performing their duty lawfully should be questioned based on where they hail from, nor should anyone or any group of people harbour the thoughts of visiting hostilities on any public official.
He advised all public officials and citizens to refrain from divisive language and actions stressing “the Krobo community stands very firm in its commitment to inclusivity and respect for all ethnic groups”.
“We find it strange that a Member of Parliament holds the opinion that a public facility built by a particular regime can and must only be administered by that regime.
We are even more dismayed by the bizarre statement by a Member of Ghana’s Parliament suggesting that a regional minister’s mandate is limited because she comes from the Krobo area.
“We, therefore, call upon the MP to retract his comments and offer an apology to the Regional Minister, the Krobo people and reaffirm his dedication to promoting unity and goodwill”, he said.
Nene Adamtey noted that as leaders and residents of Krobo, they remain steadfast in their resolve to build bridges, celebrate diversity and work together for the collective well-being and prosperity of our region and nation.
