Demo in Accra against tribal politics

Thousands of people, including leaders from across the political divide, defied yesterday's scorching sun in Accra to march against tribal politics in the country.

Political leaders from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patrick Party (NPP) and the People's National Convention (PNC) held hands in a show of solidarity during the historic march against ethnocentrism, discrimination and tribalism.

Show of solidarity

In the most striking show of harmony, and walking arm-in-arm, were a Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, along with a string of political leaders, including Mr Mike Oquaye Jnr of the NPP; the 2012 presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC),Mr Hassan Ayariga. Mr Richard Quarshigah, MP for Keta, and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister.

For close to three hours of the largely peaceful demonstration, they walked arm-in-arm, ostensibly to demonstrate the ‘One Nation, One People’ mantra of the organisers of the march, the Coalition for the Defence of Equal Citizenship (CODEC), a pressure group.

According to the organisers, the demonstration, dubbed: "One Nation, One People, We are equal", was inspired by President John Mahama's call for peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups when he delivered his State of the Nation Address last Thursday.

However, the placards also showed that the protestors were unhappy with comments allegedly made by a minister in the erstwhile Kufuor administration, Mr Yaw Osafo- Maafo.

A recording making the rounds has a voice alleged to be that of Mr Osafo-Maafo in which the speaker was heard complaining about perceived unfair distribution of resources to deserving ethnic groups in Ghana. 

According to the recording, Mr Osafo-Maafo was purported to have said that although about 90 per cent of Ghana’s natural resources were concentrated in mainly Akan-speaking regions of the country, it was people who came from regions without resources, particularly the northern part of the country, who were governing those resources.

Mr Osafo-Maafo has, however, denied uttering those words, insisting that the tape had been altered.

Some of the placards had inscriptions, including: "We are all equal" "No citizen is superior", "Osafo- Maafo, retract and apologise", "Osafo- Maafo, why?", "Stop tribal politics", "Unity in diversity", "Where is the Peace Council?" and "One People, One Nation".

Other notable faces that joined the march were Sammy Awuku, the Youth Organiser of the NPP; Mr Fred Agbenyo, the Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC; Ms Dzifa A. Gomashie, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, and Egypt Kobla Kudoto, the Volta Regional Youth Organiser of the NDC.

Dressed mainly in T-shirts and carrying placards from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where the event began, through Adabraka, the Liberation Road to the Hearts Park where their leaders took turns to address them, the marchers occasionally danced boborbo, while jama groups also played their part.

Let's end tribal politics

Addressing the crowd, Mr Ayariga, who was dressed in a multi-coloured smock, urged politicians to unite the nation, instead of dividing it.

Leading the crowd to chant “No tribal politics, no tribal politics”, he said the best examples of the consequence of tribal bigotry were the many years of unrest in Bawku.

The independent president candidate in the 2012 elections, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, urged Ghanaians to unite against a common enemy- tribal politics.

Mr Nitiwul, for his part, called Ghanaians to condemn tribalistic utterances, irrespective of their political persuasion.

"We must all condemn it and shame it. This event also means that from today, we must all say no to tribal politics," he told the cheering crowd.

Mr Ablakwa also added his voice to the call on Ghanaians to condemn tribal politics, saying the march was a notice to those who engaged in tribal bigotry to stop the act.

"We must fight against poverty, inequality and discrimination. We must not fight Ewes, Akans,Gas or Dagombas," he advised.

The sidelines

At various times, those in attendance burst into spontaneous applause and occasionally sang the national anthem.

A group of Ga Wulomei (traditional priests) stopped at almost every junction on the route to pour libation.

Some of the demonstrators expressed the view that the event could represent a turning point in Ghana's politics, amid rising concernw over the increasing tribal bigotry in Ghanaian politics.

"I joined the protest because I believe it is time our country grew beyond tribalism. We have seen what has happened in Rwanda and Cote d'lvoire. They are lessons we should learn and mistakes we should not repeat," a demonstrator who identified himself as Mr Daniel Nkegbe said.