Tamale youth condemn divisive politics
A Tamale-based group calling itself the Forum for Accountable Leadership (FAL) has condemned what it said were tribal comments made by a former Minister of State, Mr Yaw Osaafo-Maafo in a leaked tape.
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In the said tape, a voice resembling that of Mr Osafo-Maafo was heard complaining that even though about 90 per cent of Ghana’s natural resources is concentrated in mainly Akan-speaking regions of the country, people from regions without resources are the ones governing the country.
Although the former Minister has stated that the tape was doctored, YAL condemned him in a press statement released Thursday.
According to the group, statements like that, which they said was ethnocentric, could derail the peace and unity in the country.
Read the statement below:
Press Statement by Forum for Accountable Leadership (FAL)
Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the media and thank you for making time out of your busy schedules to be here.
We have gathered here today to address recent pronouncements by a prominent political figure of the country suggesting that other tribes are inferior to his own, by the nature of the relative paucity of the other regions In terms of natural resources.
It is frightening that the tribalistic pronouncements were made at the time when a debate was similarly raging unprecedented in our country or the question of religious differences on educational institutions.
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Over the last four years, we have heard derogatory comments about the northern Ghanaian suggesting that, but for the free education policy by the Kwame Nkrumah government, northerners would have teen raring cattle.
The very recent ones and most dangerous to the peaceful coexistence among the people are the comments made by yaw Osafo Marfo and the Yabre Demonstrators holding placards which read "How can a northerner rule this country, vote Mahama Out".
We are worried that these highly electric and sensitive debates may not be coming together by accident but deliberate and pose a serious political threat to national cohesion and security.
Ghana has sought through its Constitution and legislations and to lay a foundation for partisan politics of national outlook. Recent history of Africa has shown the dangers of ethnocentrism.
There are many examples but the Rwandan experience and in more recent times, the Kenyan, and further in about two years and closer home the Ivorian cases should sound the warning bells about ethnocentrism.
It is a sad commentary on us as a people that our politics and ethnicity have continued to divide us at a time we should be finding solutions to key problems of poverty underdevelopment.
The peace of this country should not be compromised on the altar of political gamesmanship by any group or individuals. We therefore call on the competent authorities and stakeholders to be proactive in addressing the question of religion in schools and to halt the divisive political debate on ethnicity.
The people of Ghana have taken note of the dangerous opinions and we need to I-the debate at that, in order not to further inflame passions.
Fifty-eight years after independence, the founding fathers of our nation, the most revered Dr Kwame Nkrumah notably must be struggling in their graves as they watch some starving political gains to destroy this wonderful house, mother Ghana, that they strived liberate and bequeath to us.
Thank you.
Singned:
Mohammed Lukman
(Spokesman)