Osafo Marfo’s “tribal comments” condemnable - Philip Longdon

A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Philip Longdon has condemned the tribal comments allegedly made by fellow party member and former finance minister Yaw Osafo Marfo.

According to him, such comments have no place in Ghanaian politics and must not be condoned by any political party.

A secret audio tape circulating on both social and traditional media captures a male voice resembling that of Mr Marfo bemoaning that even though about 90 percent of Ghana’s natural resources are concentrated in mainly Akan-speaking regions of the country, it is people who come from regions without resources that are governing the country.

The tape was apparently captured at a meeting between the former Finance Minister and the NPP’s Council of Elders in the Eastern region.

The voice, which mostly spoke in the local Twi language, but punctuated the delivery with some English, is heard bemoaning why Akan-speaking people, whose regions are rich with natural resources, are not the ones at the helm of managing those resources.

“…You have all the resources, but you have no say in the management of your resources and that is what is happening. Your development depends on the one who has no resources,” the voice said.

Commenting on the tape, Mr. Longdon stated on Radio Gold Saturday that it is shocking that such comments could have been made by an astute politician such as the one-time flagbearer-aspirant of the NPP.

“I condemn that statement anyway and nobody should support such a statement.

“I’m being told that he said that is not what he intended to say, but he is a very seasoned politician and he should have known how to speak without leaving it to interpretations, so that’s not an excuse.

“My regret is that such a statement was made and it was made by such a person whose outstanding reputation as an individual cuts across the political divide.

“And I find it most unfortunate that such a statement could be attributed to him”, Longdon said.