General News of Monday, 4 June 2012

Source: – Reggie Tagoe

GDEu condemns Kennedy Agyepong’s statement

GaDangme Europe, an Association of natives from the Greater Accra Region living in Europe, has condemned a statement against GaDangmes and Voltarians , made by Kennedy Agyepong – MP for Assin North and member of Ghana’s largest opposition Party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The statement made last month, targeted the people of GaDangme land and the Volta Region and was taken to be an act that will create ethnic tension. It captured the media attention in Ghana and was the topic of discussion on many local Radio and TV stations. The MP charged with treason and taken to court was granted bail.

GaDangme Europe (GDEu) in a statement signed by its President, Nii Tetteh Okoso Mensah, said “We the people of GaDangme origin domiciled in Europe and belonging to the organisation across Europe (GDEu) are deeply saddened, disturbed and profoundly disappointed by the repulsive speech made by Kennedy Agyepong, when he particularly targeted the people of GaDangme and Voltarian origin of Ghana.”
The GDEu further indicated , the MP for Assin North public speech sought to incite direct ‘tribal hatred’ and is the first speech by a law maker in recent times that is liable to exacerbate and damage ethnic cohesion and added such repulsive speech only help to breed hatred instead of love, chaos instead of order and strife instead of peace. “We believe Mr. Agyepong’s statement was inflammatory and liable to damage ethnic cohesion and we are determined to do everything we can to prevent ethnic tension and strife by calling on all law abiding citizens of Ghana, especially people of GaDangme and from the Volta Region (Ewes) origin to exercise restraint and be resilient in the face of such repulsive and damaging speech,” the GDEu mentioned in its statement.
It noted that, in the interim, to resolve peace and have the matter resolved, it’s calling on Mr. Agyepong to formally withdraw his repulsive statement and to render unreserved apology to the people of GaDangme and Voltarian origin. It added, in fulfilling the above action, Mr. Kennedy Agyepong will prepare the ground for damage limitation and enhance proper reconciliation.