Tribal Politics - a Tool for NDC's Electoral Success?

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gonzo 8 years ago

My brother, you have made mention of Voltarians Gas, Northners and Fantis going against Asantes. Why did you leave out Brongs?. If you go back to your history you would know that the Brongs were very close to the Asantes. But ...
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My brother, you have made mention of Voltarians Gas, Northners and Fantis going against Asantes. Why did you leave out Brongs?. If you go back to your history you would know that the Brongs were very close to the Asantes. But your attitude towards the Brongs and some remarks you made and continue to make about the Brongs have made the 2 the bitterest enemies in the country. Have you forgotten about what you said of Prof. Busia when he was the Priminister?. Recently, have you forgotten about what you said of Techimanhene during Techiman/Tuobodom conflict?. The days when you regarded Brongs as 2nd grade people are
gone and gone forever. My brother change your attitude and others will come back to love you. You said His Exellcy. the late Alieu Mahama was your vice for 8 years. How did you treat him when he tried to contest as president?. It is said that "go to the ant and learn from his ways. When Pres. Rawlings left, what happened?. When the late Pres. Mills died what happened?. As long as you remain like this, things will always be difficult for you. "A word to the wise is enouth". Thank you.
Pelicles 8 years ago

Kumasi is the only capital where all the tribes have their enclaves without anyone bothering them. There is Anloga town, Fanti New town and all the Northern regions have their zongo Naah or whatever in Kumasi so, the questio ...
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Kumasi is the only capital where all the tribes have their enclaves without anyone bothering them. There is Anloga town, Fanti New town and all the Northern regions have their zongo Naah or whatever in Kumasi so, the question is if the Ashantis are that hateful and despise other tribe, how come these tribes have their enclaves with any finger being raise at them?

When Haruna Iddrisu made that irresponsible comment as to whether his people in the Ashanti region are safe, did he ask this question as to what tribe his people met first? Northerner have had a close and amicable relationship with Ashantis way back but due to stupid partisan politics, they cannot realize that good relationship.

I will like Haruna Iddrisu to make a headcount and see what region has most of his town folks and ask why is that possible if Ashantis are that hateful.

Do some of you see how shallow-minded you are? President Mills surrounded himself with other tribe and what happened to him? He died mysteriously without any autopsy being made. How can a president die and the state refuse to delve into what killed him? How many times have JJ said that the death of Mills was a good omen to NDC and imagine an Ashanti man/ woman said this what will be the reaction?

Hate the Ashantis and they will keep on prospering while the other tribes look up to the government for a handout.
All-Die-Be-Die 8 years ago

Where does JA Kuffuor and his immediate family live? Accra; is Accra part of Kumasi? Where does Addo Kuffuor and his immediate family live? Accara; is Accra part of Kumasi? Where do Sir John, Kwabena Agyapong, etc, etc live? ...
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Where does JA Kuffuor and his immediate family live? Accra; is Accra part of Kumasi? Where does Addo Kuffuor and his immediate family live? Accara; is Accra part of Kumasi? Where do Sir John, Kwabena Agyapong, etc, etc live? Accra; is Accra part of Asante Region? I can give you more examples of Asantes and other tribe and ethnic members dotted all over in various part of Ghana. You see, your Kumasi/Asante region is not the only region where all tribes and other ethnic groups can be found. All Ghanaian tribes and ethnic groups can be found anywhere in the country so stop your lies and deceptions.
dotse 8 years ago

why do you talk rubbish? the writer quoted statements back by dates and the name of the persion. proof him worng. tell him his statements are false, why do you talk as if he is telling lies

why do you talk rubbish? the writer quoted statements back by dates and the name of the persion. proof him worng. tell him his statements are false, why do you talk as if he is telling lies
OBIA DIE MIENU MIENU 8 years ago

WHO THINKS TRIBE MORE THAN NPP???? WHO IS MORE TRIBAL THAN YOU SHORT-SIGHTED AND ETHNOCENTRIC NPP PEOPLE??????

WHO THINKS TRIBE MORE THAN NPP???? WHO IS MORE TRIBAL THAN YOU SHORT-SIGHTED AND ETHNOCENTRIC NPP PEOPLE??????
C.Y. ANDY-K 8 years ago

Telling It As It Is: The PP/NPP’s Tradition of Tribal Politics

Folks,

Here is the other post from the archives. It should be an eye opener to all those who are claiming that tribal politics started under Rawlings and ...
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Telling It As It Is: The PP/NPP’s Tradition of Tribal Politics

Folks,

Here is the other post from the archives. It should be an eye opener to all those who are claiming that tribal politics started under Rawlings and the PNDC. For others, it should reveal to them the origins of the ethnic foment and ethnic politics in Ghana under the NLC and then under the PP regime. It is that tradition that continues today, with the sympathisers of the NPP with Akan backgrounds being the main culprits.

I wrote the piece in response to Prof. George Ayittey, a major exponent of tribalistic analysis of politics in Africa. He failed to write a response though, since he has none. What I wrote then is still very relevant today and on this forum too. I’ve slightly edited it.

Incidentally, it was this very post Gamal Nkrumah took exception to, as he wrongly thought I was referring to him when I wrote “incestuous Egyptians”. I found out and explained to him that he and present Egyptians were far from my mind, as I was referring to the ancient and real Kemetians. Kofi Ellison, you get this straight, as you’ve been wrongly referring to this from an unknown source who told you I had a clash with Gamal.

Well, this is quite long so I’d leave this with you and for the record.

Date: Wed Aug 05 20:03:14 1998
To: ayittey@, VILLAGE@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
From: Andy K
Subject: Re: [VILLAGE] Ghana Leader Seeks Unity of Black Race
Cc:
Bcc:

Villagers,

This is something I can't pass over. As usual, it is designed to inform you all, not to enter into any discussion with Prof. Ayittey. He may however issue rebuttals to what I have written if false, or not entirely correct. After all, I never make claims to holding the monopoly to the elusive truth. I am just a lonely Seeker after the Truth. (To your information, Prof Ayittey had never taken up the challenge to back up his claims with some facts and I burnt him out the last time he repeated them).

At 19:07 03.08.1998 -0400, George B.N.Ayittey wrote:
>*************
>
>Cinque, and look who's calling for unity of the black race? A "Clarence Thomas":) >Ooops, a Freudian slip :)
>
>Seriously, Cinque, in my view, Rawlings is NOT the person for this job because:

>1. His 17 years in power in Ghana have been the MOST DIVISIVE. Ethnic tension is very >high in Ghana today. Ask any Ghanaian. There is a public perception that key positions in >Rawlings' government are occupied by his ethnic group, the Ewe. Note: I said public >PERCEPTION. Ask any Ghanaian. If he cannot unify his own citizens, how much more >those outside the country?

Andy-K writes in reply:
That ethnic tensions in Ghana are very high, first of all, is an overstatement. Rather, it is high among Ghanaians in the diaspora. Secondly, whatever ethnic tensions are there are not due to Rawlings' doing. Rather, it is the doing of some bankrupt and jaded politicians who have been arousing ethnic hatred against Rawlings mother's ethnic group members, the Ewes, as a political tool to gain power. So far, it has failed resoundingly. In fact, it has backfired so badly the culprits, found mainly in the NPP, which George also belongs to, are now openly writing and saying that they had to reassess their strategy.

The issue is not a "public perception," shared by a majority of Ghanaians. The "perception" is insidiously and virulently promoted by a narrow group of Ghanaians, of whom George indeed is one of them. He clearly and unambiguously promoted this in a mail he posted on Okyeame sometime ago. As to be expected, I took him on and referred him to the English Sociologist, Charles Elliott's book (1975). A great comparative study of poverty and its causes in some "Third World" countries, it presented statistics on the ethnic distribution in different occupations, including the public services in Ghana too. As I told George, the figures show that by 1975, his own ethnic group, the Gas, proportionately have more of their people in higher govt. positions than any other ethnic group in Ghana! I wanted to know whether that has changed since Rawlings assumed office again on 31 Dec., 1981, less than a day to 1982. As to be expected no answer came from him.

Of course, I am aware of newer researches, as that of Richard Jefferies, African Affairs, 92. 331-399:1993, which clearly state that Rawlings has not packed higher offices with Ewes since his second coming to power. (BTW, same accusations were made during his brief first coming of 3 months too). What anyone having the pretensions to being a scholar or an intellectual should do is to read those studies and stop spreading such venomous and virulent lies, which are in fact reminiscent of 1920 and '30s Nazi campaigns against Jews. Or what we Africans get from anti-alien, racist groups and parties in Europe presently. But that is not the way of George. His is abstract empiricism! Just repeat the nonsense ad nauseam without bothering to cross-check!

Anyway, I can recollect that when he posted the same offending post to the Village, he had amended the offending portion about one ethnic group in Ghana dominating to a multiplicity of ethnic groups, thanks to my biting criticism of him (on Okyeame). He left intact that simplistic level of analysis for Nigeria and Kenya, which I also objected to too. Some of you may recollect that post.

What actually is the problem? Is that "perception," (actually it's nothing more than sheer, deep-seated expression of "native prejudice" - my coinage - against Ewes, which stock I belong to), of what they have now dubbed "Ewenisation" a new thing, arising after Rawlings became head of the PNDC? Which PNDC and later NDC Party comprise a cross-section of Ghanaians? Far from it! Indeed, all the political parties in Ghana were represented in the PNDC in its early years, so nobody was excluded. (Interestingly, Kufour, presidential candidate of the NPP, was the rep. for the PFP in the PNDC).

Villagers, it is the confrontation of the source of that native prejudice that recently spilt over into the Village under the title of “Yaa Asantewaa....” We aren't finished yet! So let me take you back just to the late 1960s, not 1900.:-)

From Denis Austin's book, Ghana Observed (1976: 125), Manchester University Press and Africana Publishing Company, we read about the anti-Ewe hysteria prior to the election that brought Dr K.A. Busia's Progress Party to power in 1969. Please bear with my long quote.
******************************
"A surprising and disagreeable novelty of the election was the extraordinary anti-Ewe sentiment that was expressed in conversation with many of those who were against Gbedemah and his party. One can explain this very strong animus not simply by a dislike of Gbedema's reappearance in political life but in relation to events after 1966 coup. Suddenly there were the soldiers and the police, and everyone bust out singing, but when the music died away it was noticed that the NLC was commanded (it seemed) by minorities: Ewe and Ga. When Ankra (a Ga) was moved out, and charges were brought over-hastily by Harlley against the Chief of the Defence Staff, Michael Otu, the evidence to many was overwhelming. It was all an Ewe plot. Soon Ghana would be run for the benefit of an energetic minority, operating first within the armed forces, and now behind Gbedemah. "Appoint an Ewe to a public corporation or to a government department and within a year the entire hierarchy down to the messenger will be Ewe.” So the argument ran.

[MY COMMENTS: As it is still running today, as shown by a piece on the web site of the Ghanaian Chronicle I have posted below - one reason for the ongoing Yaa Asantewaa fracas.].

"And there was always some evidence for it, since the Ewe, deprived of any natural wealth in their barren region, have for many years been energetic in seizing the opportunities of public employment, including positions in the army and police, which wealthier communities (like the Akan) did not wish to occupy. In practice, looking through the list of senior officers in government departments and the public corporations, the evidence is certainly not clear of any Ewe domination: it could hardly be so in view of their number. (MY COMMENT: JUST OVER 13 % OF GHANA'S POP.). But a belief does not, of course have to be true for people to hold it fervently.
Now there is an Akan-dominated government of an Akan-dominated society. Were I to become, by some improbable change of fate, leader of the governing party I would be much less apprehensive of my Ewe opponents in front than of the large and expectant following behind. I would be fearful too of the ambitions of those now excluded from power, remembering the Songs of Innocence that:
The strongest poison ever known
Came from Caesar's laurel crown".

Here we end the extended quote!

Wise words indeed! But were the reactionary PP members told then, they would not have paid any heed. After assuming power, after a coup in which some Ewe officers played dominant roles, they set out to dismiss mostly Ewes, some few Gas and others known to be sympathetic to the banned CPP from their posts. They achieved this through the insertion of the first infamous Transitional Provisions in a Constitution of Ghana, attempts to deprive Ewes of their jobs having failed during the latter years of the NLC. This is the backdrop to the struggle Awoonor briefly mentioned in his ‘famous’ book, and for that, he has become an object of insult to all kinds of puny Akan boys and girls with some modicum of literacy. They (PP) did not last even 2 years in office! I can comment deeper on the above quote, since my own father was one key person who gave evidence, and was before then discriminated against after the coup. And there was plenty to tell, since the charges were true. Hope the official, classified documents of the hearing in camera should now be declassified to stop future speculation. I was big enough to know what was happening then, right from the 1966 coup.

My own father, being the most qualified around, was persuaded to forego confirmation for a post he had been acting in for years under the CPP regime (the CPP big-wigs thought only whites could hold the post!), just to allow a Ga to assume it, as Ewes were supposed to be already too many in similar posts! It was indeed a case of jobs for the boys all over again! So there was some sort of Affirmative Action going on to allow newly qualified Akans and others to also assume posts they did not formerly want. I suffered same fate with another Ewe friend too before, in our seeking a simple vacation job in 1976! And to think an Ewe, a father to a dormitory mate in school was in charge of the recruitment! But he explained, and we accepted, that even though far better qualified, they must take some others too, or they'd be hearing complaints again! So they took on 2 Twi-speaking secondary F4 girls while I, a Sixth Former armed with superlative ‘O’ L results and 3 RSA Stage 2 in English, Accounting and Commerce, was turned down! My friend was also an ‘O’L graduate with good grades and teaching part-time in a preparatory school while pursuing the CA then.

Unfortunately, they (PP, now NPP cohorts) have not learned anything from their past folly and are condemned to the political wilderness, raining insults on all and sundry. Most Ghanaians don't trust them any longer.

Anyway, some of us said enough is enough with this ethnic demonisation, while we are not even enjoying the fruits of office. Our region ranks among the lowest on the development ladder, a permanent position of "Number 9" among 10!:-) We gonna respond and do you in proper, exposing you down to your fathers and mentally warped ancestors who passed on to you those kinds of native prejudice; not better than those held by white supremacists we have come to know in our sojourn among white people.

After all, some of us know that white supremacist ideas had origins from ideas held by the incestuous ancient Egyptians about other peoples! They used to call the Greeks barbarians and no Egyptian girl would kiss a Greek ‘cos Greeks eat pork and meat, taboos to Egyptians. The demon in our midst is our own creation! Let us deal with it right from our homes! To UNIFY any people in a meaningful way, some would have to be made to drop their feelings of superiority and prejudices they hold about others within the same group. Period!

I think Rawlings has done enough to remove that image from the eyes of the mass of Ghanaians. In 1966, Kotoka would have been quite unacceptable to most non-Ewe Ghanaians as Head of State. That's why Ankrah was brought out of retirement to be head of the NLC. After all, by 1966, Ewes were just "Ayigbe dzorlor," i.e., "Ayigbe thieves," the pejorative term you Gas had coined for us Ewes, George. And I did not hear crying "you've changed meter band to Number 9," at the sound of Ewe when I was last at home, as was the case in even the early ‘80s. We'd get to the bottom of all this, just wait long enough!

Please find below a "modern" version of the Ewes are dominating us hysteria. Make up your own minds about the import of the purported letter to the "Chronicle."

>Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 21:17:28 +0200
>To: Okyeame@africaonline.com
>From: Andy K
>Subject: Tribal Conspiracy at Wesley College?
>Cc: africa_think_tank@databack.com
>
>Folks,
>As you can see, they are still at it, the T-mongers! By their words, we shall know them!
>As an Ewe, as you all know of course, I have said no to this kind of demonisation. I have >renounced the "si kpi kporwo" (don't mind them) mentality which our parents, siblings and >elders brought us up with, and is out to confront bare hands, if need be, all who think they >have grievances against Ewes. They have no case!
>That this should be happening within a church organisation is even more pathetic. Read for >yourself this piece of crap found in a national press and put on the web.
>
>Andy-K
>Norway
>
Tribal Conspiracy At Wesley College

In the November 11, 1997 issue of the "Free Press", Mr. A. Bosompem Boaboduro wrote inter alia:
"That is the reason why a place becomes Ewenized in no time, the moment you put one Ewe there."

In this write-up we intend to prove why and how there has been a conspiracy to subject Ashantis to humiliation, in Wesley College and as a result Ewenize the college. We know that at the end of it all we will be accused of fanning tribalism, but we are sure that whoever reads this article carefully and objectively will sympathise with us, the students of Wesley College and particularly the Ashantis among us.
When a little over two years ago it became necessary for the then Principal of Wesley College, Rev. Kofi Amponsah to retire from the Ghana Education Service, it became necessary for the Methodist Church to recommend somebody to replace him.
Also in 1984 when Rev. Brew-Riverson left the college as principal, two people, Rev. Kofi Amponsah and Rev. M. O. Antwi vied for the post of principal of the college. Rev. Kofi Amponsah eventually got the post and Rev. M. O. Antwi was appointed General Manager of Methodist Schools. Now as General Manager, Rev. M. O. Antwi became the Appointing Officer when Rev. Amponsah was to be replaced as the principal of the college in 1996.
It was at this stage that the conspiracy began. Apparently Rev. M. O. Antwi was peeved because in 1984 an Ashanti was appointed to the post of principal of the college, now that he was the Appointing Officer, he decided to "show" Ashantis, who he had thought, manouvred to side-step him in favour of Rev. Amponsah.
It is pertinent to note that even though in June 1996, a date was fixed for an interview to select a principal for the college, long before the interview many people in GES circles knew that Rev. Ametefe would be the principal of the college. This, the General Manager was capable of doing, because as the Appointing Officer, he was in a position to advise whatever panel conducted the interview on whom to appoint. So eventually Rev. Ametefe got the post after a farce of an interview had been conducted.
Now after Rev. Ametefe had got the post of principal, the scene was set to "show" the Ashantis. In less than two years as Principal of Wesley College, Rev. Ametefe's administration has been so fraught with tribalism and mal-administration that if nothing is done about the situation, Wesley College will lose its glory as one of the best training colleges in Ghana.
Now let me enumerate a few examples of tribalism and poor administration under Rev Ametepe. A few months after taking over the administration of the college, he declared that he could not work any more with the domestic bursar, her assistant, the college store-keeper, all Ashantis. Although, he could not assign any tangible reason for this action, he put so much pressure on the regional office that the two women were transferred from the college. Our information is that he wanted to replace those transferred with Ewes but he apparently met resistance somewhere.
In furtherance of his plan to Ewenize the administrative set-up of the college, Rev. Ametefe has made the college librarian (an Ewe), Gershon Tsadidey, virtually a vice-principal of the college. All construction works are under his care.
Obviously all these are creating tension in the college, and certainly if nothing is done about this, there will soon be an explosion on campus.
We plead with the GES Directorate in Ashanti and opinion leaders in the region to do something about it. We warn that this should not be interpreted as merely crying wolf or making false allegations. Whoever doubts what we have said can conduct his own investigations to find out the truth.

> CONCERNED STUDENTS.WESLEY COLEGE, KUMASI, ASHANTI.
> Homepage
> //www.africaonline.com.gh/AfricaOnline/newsstand/chronicle/1/page07.htm

-----------END OF FORWARDED POST-------------------------

Now, how can appointing a principal to a school in Ghana be the concern of some students; not even old students? BTW, the Rev. Antwi is most likely an Akan too, as “Antwi” is a common Akan name, though there are some Ewes of Akan origins with Akan names. And there is a whole bunch of an Ewe sub-group with Ga-Fanti origins marrying with Ewes, the so-called Mina-Ewes centred around southern Togo Republic and Benin. Ewes are thus people of mixed linguistic origins, not any single tribal group from the past. Our eventual homeland became the so-called Slave Coast, as some of you surely know already. But that is quite another story, even though it is much a part of the reason for the formation of what I've dubbed "native prejudice" against us by non-Ewe Ghanaians.

Some few other comments on what George wrote.-

>2. His regime has been the MOST BRUTAL and CORRUPT in Ghana's history.

That the PNDC has been brutal in its early years I won't dispute. Much of that brutality was actually directed at each other, in the power struggle between the "super-revolutionaries" and the moderates. The moderates won. That stopped most of the abuses super-revolutionaries were meting out to the public. There was near anarchy in the country. Rawlings himself was nearly several times "devoured by the revolution." Insiders claimed he was not sleeping at the same place twice at a time!

As for the corruption, the PNDC was once one of the cleanest in Ghana's history. Ghana won some few prizes, e.g., for having the lowest pilfering and theft at the ports, and fastest turn around (hence low demurrages) for ships. Since 1990, particularly after 1992, the need to accommodate the vociferous business community and sections of the right-wing opposition, has meant a general laxity and return to the bad ways of the past with a vengeance. It seems the dictum of those people that "corruption is the lubricant which oils the wheels of bureaucracy" has won the day. But Ghana is certainly not the number 6th in corruption level, bypassing even Indonesia, as claimed not long ago. Something must be done to curb rampant corruption though.

>3. He denigrated the sanctity of African heritage by imposing ALIEN
>institutions on the people of Ghana. He blew up indigenous MARKETS,
>stripped and whipped MARKET WOMAN who violated price controls -- an
>alien measure. (Chiefs do not impose price controls on village markets);
>imposed nonsensical revolutionary committees -- an idea which was
>imported from Cuba, etc. etc.

As for this, what the hell does George mean? Which "alien institutions"? BTW, Rawlings is half-Scot, half-Ewe. His present Vice is also called Mills! Alien names, by George! Indeed, aliens are ruling us.:-) What else can we expect?:-)

The rest of the stuff above is just fiction too. I don't know which traditional institutions George has studied. If I begin to quote lengthy sentences to disprove him now, some will begin to say that Andy-K is anti-this or that. Perhaps, he hasn't read any where how the Kings and chiefs imposed very strict fiscal rules over the markets and trade routes, breaking them which can earn man the loss of his/her head! Of course, whole towns and villages could be wiped out for severe violations.

One devastating war the Asantes fought against the Fantis was simply for the reason that some two chiefs failed to send some gold nuggets they found to the Asantehene's treasury! And we know by now how the Asantes control the prices of slaves. Don't we? Well, they locked the "surplus" in their homes and burn them alive, for instance! Cinque, you must be lucky your ancestor got through into the slave boat! I hate myths!

And what dared you grow pepper in ancient Dahomey without permission from the King of Abomey? And can you move a slave or an elephant tusk to the European slave castles in Accra without paying your due to the free-booting Akwamus when they were the mercenaries and guardians of the slave routes for you Gas; or after they had given your ancestors a thrashing and taken over the trade themselves, spilling the slave trade into the world of our ancestors in the present VR?

>4. Surrendered the sovereignty of Ghana to the World Bank and the IMF,

Hmm! As for this, no plenty comments! I don't think much of the Terrible Twins too. But did we ever regain that "sovereignty"? Nkrumah only said everything else (economic independence inclusive) would follow political independence. "Seek ye first the political kingdom ....” Some of his critics, e.g., Prof. A.W. Seidman (1978), said the formula was naive to begin with.

>5. Placed the SEAT of his government in the Castle in Accra, where
>thousands of AFRICAN SLAVES were kept in dungeons before trans-shipment
>to the Americas. Yet, he is the same man who sherperd (sic) black American
>tourists to Elmina Castle, some 80 miles away, for an emotional connection.
>Some tourist guide, eh?

The seat of government has for a long time been the Castle. Rawlings just moved in too.

As for the tourism project, I have my own serious misgivings about it and had expressed them elsewhere - directly to those involved too. In fact, I know some of the key architects very well, including the brain behind. He was my host when I was collecting data early 1993 at Elmina and at Shama. We go a long way back.

However, when I read some of the goings on, apart from making contact with my friend, I made contact with no less a person than one main consultant at Smithsonian Institute and expressed my (our) concerns. I gave permission for everything I wrote to be sent to the powers-that-be in Accra and Cape Coast, where George actually attended his famous "high school" in which students used to sit on the floor.:-) Phew! Some people can spin a yarn for a buck! Sorry! Villagers, pardon my soliloquy.

George, there is a fierce power struggle going on in Ghana (and elsewhere) the surface of which only appears now and then. It all has to do with the UNITY of the Old and New, the historically dispossessed of the African diaspora and that of Africa, and the place of the "privileged" of Africa within that order. That unity of purpose and interest, of course, MUST come into fruition, but upon whose terms and conditions? At this moment, I do not want to write more about this, as I intend to do so elsewhere, sooner or later. But let me just narrate this incidence involving the so-called renovation of the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles.

What apparently turned out to be a "white-washing" exercise, led an African-American to go on hunger strike protest in the Cape Coast Castle. Some of you certainly know the story better than me already. Ghanaians, including those on Okyeame were outraged, claiming that such a publicity gimmick by well-to-do idealists was out of place in a country some people go to bed with only one meal a day! I stepped in to inform Akyeame that even when some of their ancestors (the hunger strikers) were in shackles, they tried to starve themselves to death. That was why the white slavers used to bring special pincers for knocking off the front teeth of those captives seaward-bound refusing to eat so that they could be force fed. After that, we had a fruitful discussion of enlightenment and Re-Awakening of African Consciousness. Akyeame learned that hunger strike as a tool of protest was not something invented by Gandhi! Of course, the incidence brought out some contradictions in attitudes and viewpoints between the various three parties I identified above, which I'd pass over discussing now.

Well, I have been more verbose than intended.:-) Thanks George for giving me the opportunity to let some bile off my chest.:-)

Andy K

ADDENDUM:
So here ended my views on a number of issues, besides the accusation of the T-thing, which generated it. For those dishonestly or ignorantly claiming that Rawlings brought tribalism to the Ghanaian body politic, from now onwards, they should know that we have travelled that blind alley before, and heard it all before! The Busia, PP tradition introduced it into Ghanaian politics! They used it against our fathers, uncles, aunts, etc. We their sons and daughters shall NOT TOLERATE ANY LONGER THIS concoction of BIGOTRY, ENVY AND PREJUDICE FROM ANYONE WHATSOEVER! We Ewes study hard to get jobs we are qualified for, as someone responsible for recruitment in Ghana recently confirmed to me again. Himself an Ewe, he said at times, he tried awarding lower points to the Ewe candidate, only to be overruled by the white boss and others on the panel! That was his way of dealing with the murmurings he has been hearing – attempt to disqualify yet another more qualified Ewe from getting a job his/her struggling parents had sacrificed so much for!
Yaw 8 years ago

Just look at the ministerial, CEO and board member appointments by current NDC government. That will tell you a story you have closed your eyes to. Check from people who work in public institutions and you will find that majo ...
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Just look at the ministerial, CEO and board member appointments by current NDC government. That will tell you a story you have closed your eyes to. Check from people who work in public institutions and you will find that majority of people that have been forced out are Akans. Those who have gained employment are mostly Ewes, Gas, and people from the three northern regions. Go to the ministries, majority of Chief Directors and Directors are from the groups I have mentioned. Is this the Ghana we want? Remember Ghana is for all of us. 2016 is fast approaching.
Yaw 8 years ago

Just look at the ministerial, CEO and board member appointments by current NDC government. That will tell you a story you have closed your eyes to. Check from people who work in public institutions and you will find that majo ...
read full comment

Just look at the ministerial, CEO and board member appointments by current NDC government. That will tell you a story you have closed your eyes to. Check from people who work in public institutions and you will find that majority of people who have been forced out are Akans, Ashanties in particular. Those who have gained employment are mostly Ewes, Gas, and people from the three northern regions. Go to the ministries, majority of Chief Directors and Directors are from the groups I have mentioned. Is this the Ghana we want? Remember Ghana is for all of us. 2016 is fast approaching.
KKO 8 years ago

Distortion of facts in support of a bogus theory! Have you asked yourself why within 20 months of the NLC assuming power 75% of all top positions in the civil and public services were occupied by Ewes? Busia had been made hea ...
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Distortion of facts in support of a bogus theory! Have you asked yourself why within 20 months of the NLC assuming power 75% of all top positions in the civil and public services were occupied by Ewes? Busia had been made head of the National Commission for Civic Education not long after he returned from exile. In that position, he travelled all over Ghana and interacted with most departments and knew exactly what was going on before he resigned to form the Progress Party.

When the progress party assumed power in late 1969, every whisper of his or any of his ministers was made available to Kofi Badu and Gass-Porsoo and their “Statesman,” within minutes. The originals of cabinet meeting minutes were sent to the NUGS within hours of their final approval. And the sources were Ewes in sensitive positions within the government apparatus; sheer treachery. If you were running a government that faced serious economic conditions with a shrill opposition in parliament, what would you do?

At least Busia took his case to Parliament, your murderer hero, got the people he didn’t like imprisoned without trial or murdered in cold blood! That is the difference!

Okatakyie has cited names, instances, dates and places. Why don’t you deal with those?
C.Y. ANDY-K 8 years ago

Nonsense and bloody lies! Most Ewes, including those who were sacked, were in their positions long before the coup. They rose through the ranks, many from colonial times, to the positions they occupied. The records are there ...
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Nonsense and bloody lies! Most Ewes, including those who were sacked, were in their positions long before the coup. They rose through the ranks, many from colonial times, to the positions they occupied. The records are there for all to check, and even a PhD thesis was written on the subject. So by 1`975, Ewes did not SIGNIFICANTLY, i.e., statistically speaking, dominate the civil service. I have given my sources, written by foreigners. Where is yours?

All that Katakyie quoted out of context were simply reactions to the expressed ethnocentricism of Asantes from the NLM tradition. I don't have to waste my time explaining them.

Perhaps, you aren't aware that many Ewes were also killed, imprisoned and lost their properties under the PNDC. Even our Awoamefia was slapped, roughed up and nearly killed, while JJ was buddy-buddy with the previous Asantehene. Or, you didn't listen to or read about the proceedings of the so-called Reconciliation C'ttee set up by Kufuor.

Andy-K
CICERO 8 years ago

the perverse thinking of many ewes is that they assume they assume they are academically and superior in intelligence than the Ashanti.
Sadly yes they run after qualifications because they have nothing else to jump start ...
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the perverse thinking of many ewes is that they assume they assume they are academically and superior in intelligence than the Ashanti.
Sadly yes they run after qualifications because they have nothing else to jump start their miserable lives and lack the common sense to live a successful live even when they rise to the highest offices in public life.
Look at Justices Kpegah and a host of other Ewes.
We will find time to response to the crap of C.Y. ANDY-K
Kojo T 8 years ago

Apartheid is abominable.If Kumasi practices that then it is wrong.I stayed in many areas of Accra and there was no segregation.When we played gutter to gutter it did not matter what language you spoke and we all used the prof ...
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Apartheid is abominable.If Kumasi practices that then it is wrong.I stayed in many areas of Accra and there was no segregation.When we played gutter to gutter it did not matter what language you spoke and we all used the profanity öooooo so...equally Have a nice day Mr Asante Äfrikaner
sly 8 years ago

You are more shallow show me which part of this country were other tribe's are not living in, so trave around the country side and no more, don,t stay in your home and say so

You are more shallow show me which part of this country were other tribe's are not living in, so trave around the country side and no more, don,t stay in your home and say so
bob 8 years ago

Commot from there, idiot! Prove me wrong if any point is false!

Commot from there, idiot! Prove me wrong if any point is false!
Bill Hanson 8 years ago

Tribalism started in 1966 after the coup.Before the coup we have lot of foreigners living in Ghana and we called all of them Ghanaians. Afrifa and Kotoka brought tribalism to Ghana.

Tribalism started in 1966 after the coup.Before the coup we have lot of foreigners living in Ghana and we called all of them Ghanaians. Afrifa and Kotoka brought tribalism to Ghana.
C.Y. ANDY-K 8 years ago

Not , it wasn't Kotoka and Afrifa who brought tribalism to Ghana. It was Dr Busia and his PP.

Andy-K

Not , it wasn't Kotoka and Afrifa who brought tribalism to Ghana. It was Dr Busia and his PP.

Andy-K
irrepressible fireman 8 years ago

Are you not the same person critisizing akuffo ad do?u Ve now become a turncoat n tribalistic,u have forgotten all die be die n yen akan duo n ossafo marfos comments n this daft charlatan Kennedy agyapong incitement of as an ...
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Are you not the same person critisizing akuffo ad do?u Ve now become a turncoat n tribalistic,u have forgotten all die be die n yen akan duo n ossafo marfos comments n this daft charlatan Kennedy agyapong incitement of as antes to kill gas n ewe ,wise up because I don't think u will get any ministerial appointment if npp comes to power
YF-Heidelberg 8 years ago

You guys up here should read that Ewe bastard, late Prof Kofi Awoonor's ethnic book and leave Akans in peace. But whatever, whether Ewes or Northerners are jealousing, Ashantis will continue to prosper while you guys will rem ...
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You guys up here should read that Ewe bastard, late Prof Kofi Awoonor's ethnic book and leave Akans in peace. But whatever, whether Ewes or Northerners are jealousing, Ashantis will continue to prosper while you guys will remain in poverty. You can spend all your adult life envying and hating Ashantis, we will continue to prosper. Rawlings and his Ewes came and spent almost 20 years trying to destroy Ashantis. What happened? Now you have this useless and brainless Mahama. He even stink.
C.Y. ANDY-K 8 years ago

And he was a great scholar, poet and diplomat of international repute. And he came from a great, much accomplished family with links all over W. Africa in spite of their origins.

And he certainly didn't write any "ethnic ...
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And he was a great scholar, poet and diplomat of international repute. And he came from a great, much accomplished family with links all over W. Africa in spite of their origins.

And he certainly didn't write any "ethnic book". OF COURSE, YOU DIDN'T READ HIS "THE GHANA REVOLUTION". That's the book some of you Asantes have been making dubious, hypocritical false claims about; not even reading the book. If you are concerned about an "ethnic book", then you should be making noise about the follow up book he wrote specifically on Asantes and Ewes, extolling them as the fulcrum on which Ghana's devt and stability hinge. Or, is it cos he was so full of praise for the Asantes and not even a nasty word against them?

As for the The Ghana
Revolution, he simply mentioned the hounding of Ewes by Busia and his Progress party, which hounding continued under Kutu, eventually leading to his own imprisonment for helping Brig. Kattah to escape arrest. His book, he claimed, even though published in 1984 was written in prison in the mid 70s, long before anyone ever heard of Rawlings. And after 31st Dec. 1981, so couldn't have influenced Rawlings either.

Watch this space.

Andy-K
francis kwarteng 8 years ago

Nyebro Yao,

Good day!

Well, as you may have seen I am also having the same problems with some readers on Ghanaweb.

Some commentators are saying I only quote, quote, and quote without thinking for myself.

For in ...
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Nyebro Yao,

Good day!

Well, as you may have seen I am also having the same problems with some readers on Ghanaweb.

Some commentators are saying I only quote, quote, and quote without thinking for myself.

For instance, one informed commentator produces his source and asks the other uninformed or less informed to produce his/hers, and the latter comes back parroting uninformed platitudes and distortions.

Yet when you read "these" commentators' postings all one sees are unoriginal misrepresentations and mus-paraphrasings of facts and outright lies and sheer ignorance, like Kobina Philip Baidoo, Jr. has been in all his articles this year.

This is not to say some of us know everything. No individual knows everything. But it is the glorification of "ignorace" that gives some of us cause for worry. I have read Awoonor and he says nothing of the sort attributed to him on Ghanaweb by some folk.

Clearly, some commentators have been "paraphrasing" Awoonor without having read the man. I keep encountering this problem now and then on Ghanaweb.

I had another encounter with Nyansasem on Baidoo's latest article. Nyansasem brought out the public disagreements between Eric Dyson and his former mentor, Cornel West.

All Nyansasem did was to mention Eric Dyson's side of the story without telling readers that it was rather Cornel West who strated it all.

I was surprised by Nyansasem's ill-informed and uninformed claims because the impasse between Dyson and West was and still is such that it is all over the place and I wonder why he will come to Ghanaweb and say as well as imply otherwise.

Nyansasem did not tell readers that West started it all. In fact, it took Dyson a considerable period of time to respond to West as West jumped from one media, eg. Democracy Now, to another discrediting his former mentee.

Nyansasem never bothered to tell readers what exactly West did to incur the wrath and disaproval of Dyson. This exactly what I see on Ghanaweb almost every day.

Even more laughable was the implications of Nyansasem ill-informed implications. He probably thinks because Dyson and his former mentor are at each other's throat, some of us should also follow that example by going for the throat of our mentors (like Molefi Kete Asante, for instance) when we are on good terms.

Even where two individuals, a mentee and a mentor, are not on good terms, does it necesarrily follow that they should embrace the Dyson-West precedent?

Yet Nyansasem will come out to say I am not an original thinker, as if he is. Do you know what? He mentioned SARPONG among Kofi Amenyo, Kofi Atta, Prof. Asare, and Kwesi Atta Sakyi as writers who can think and draw their own conclusions?

That was when I knew this Nyansasem guy has not been reading my articles. That was also when I knew this Nyansasem guy did not know what he was talking about. Nyansasem did not know that I was not any of the writers he mentioned and that I was my own man and writer.

Yet Nyansasem has conveniently refused to come back to respond to my questions in which I expected him to identify ONE article published on Ghanaweb (since the founding of Ghanaweb) that is original.

Nyansasem does not know that because one draws his/her onw conclusions based on a text, or otherwise, does not necessarily mean the writer is original. I had since told him that I had not seen ONE single original article on Ghanaweb since I began publishing there in 2012.

I have a wide circle of friends (authors, professors, classmates, reviwers, professionals of all classes, editors, scientists, teachers, political scientists, historians, etc), just like you Andy and other commentators, and most of the stuff I read on Ghanaweb are predestrian topics that come in my conversations with this circle of friends.

Those of us, like you Andy, who also read widely come across these predestrian topics discussed on Ghanaweb on daily basis.

Thus, the likes of Nyansasem reads these pedestrian topics and think these "original" topics are new topics designed under the sun. Then ask him to produce a counter-evidence in a debate and he has none. It is deeply regrettable that Katakyie's platitudinal quotes lack the critique of historical precedence and context they otherwise desire for discursive clarification.

I have seen you (Andy) ask your critics to go read a particular book and they don't come back again. Yet one sees these same critics on other places (Ghanaweb) repeating the same uninformed platititutes.

I had to tell him Kobina Philip Baidoo, Jr. has been lifting ideas from ring-wing websites and presenting them on Ghanaweb as his own (that is, without crediting his sources).

This is why our educational system is falling so fast as the apple allegedly did in the presence of Isaac Newton.

People like Nyansasem do not want thinkers like me to rely on our internal resources but to accept those of Prof. Asare whose "shallow" legal analyses I could easily debunk (though I don't have any formal legal training; of course, one does not need a formal legal training to do what Asare does, for instance) with no sweat and Sarpong, to mention but two, whose arguments and largely uninformed articles do not meet the logical threshold I expect of serious writers.

In fact, I have not read more than ten of Sarpong's articles since I began publishing for Ghanaweb in 2012. I have serious Ghanaweb writers I don't miss on Ghanaweb.

That said, Awoonor was one of Africa's finest poets, diplomats, Pan-Africanists, and writers to come from Africa. Molefi Kete Asante, Wole Soyinka, and Chinua Achebe, to mention but three, held Awoonor in high esteem.

No one should come back and ask me why Asante, Soyinka, and Achebe, three men who have influenced the world they way they had, should hold Awoonor in high esteem!

The answer is obvious.

Thanks Nyebro Yao.

Have a great day.
CICERO 8 years ago

Please stop this nonsense of trying to arrogate superior intelligence to the ewes. We sat in classrooms with them wrote both O and A levels with them there is nothing exception about their academic excellence. Invariably it i ...
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Please stop this nonsense of trying to arrogate superior intelligence to the ewes. We sat in classrooms with them wrote both O and A levels with them there is nothing exception about their academic excellence. Invariably it is the "nyabro" conspiracy in higher education in ghana over the years that leveraged a number of your claimed academicians. Please give us a break and go hide in your trokosi warped paranoia
kweku trouble 8 years ago

Did the writer just not preach tribalism and incite hate? This is just masturbation and nothing else. Foolish article.

Did the writer just not preach tribalism and incite hate? This is just masturbation and nothing else. Foolish article.
BOBBY BROWN @Gmail.com 8 years ago

16:kill votarian n northners. 17:ye akanfor all were said by d said party from this agent n contractor.Those r jxt few i want to mention.I advice d readers to ignoer dat so-called writer

16:kill votarian n northners. 17:ye akanfor all were said by d said party from this agent n contractor.Those r jxt few i want to mention.I advice d readers to ignoer dat so-called writer
jake 8 years ago

All these you did not find
anything wrong with the all die be die

All these you did not find
anything wrong with the all die be die
NOWATI 8 years ago

Why the writer forgot Kennedy Agyepong pronouncement to kill Gas and Ewes, jake obtesje , Akufo Addo - yen Akanfou ready for all die be die

Why the writer forgot Kennedy Agyepong pronouncement to kill Gas and Ewes, jake obtesje , Akufo Addo - yen Akanfou ready for all die be die
Omane 8 years ago

This is your opening gambit.

The irony however is that, the very people at the receiving end of this tribal hatred, that is, Akans, continue to fall prey to the party's diabolic act. It's my hope that after reading this pi ...
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This is your opening gambit.

The irony however is that, the very people at the receiving end of this tribal hatred, that is, Akans, continue to fall prey to the party's diabolic act. It's my hope that after reading this piece, you would readily join the crusade in kicking the NDC out in 2016.

This is a list of the Akan family in Ghana.Akuapim,Denkyira,Fante,Sefwi,Assin,Brong,Ahanta,Wassa,Brossa,Kwahu.Akyem,Akwammu,Nzema,Ahafo,Agona,Asante and Fante.

Whereas an Asante is an Akan not all Akans can be classified as Asante.

Now,lets us debunk Opoku Agyemang"s non-facts.
Point 1;There is nothing Anti-Akan in this.He is talking about NPP not being open and inclusive.

Point 2a; Kumasi does not represent
Akans in Sunyani or Takoradi.

Point 2b;There is nothing Anti-Akan in ensuring the safety of Voltarians.

Point 3;There is nothing Anti-Akan in asking for the safety of other ethnic-minorities in Ashanti Region.

Point 4;Prez Mills,talked about the Great Ashanti Project not the Great Akan Project.Mills, is an Akan so your argument is flawed.

Point 5;Prez Mills, was specific about Ashanti and Kumasi.These two names does not represent Akans in its entirety.

Point 6;Prez Mills,was taking political advantage of being a native of that area.What is Anti-Akan about it?

Point 7;Nothing remotely Anti-Akan in what he said.

Point 8;As a bona-fide Akan myself,I find those comments made by Edwin Vanderpuije, morally repulsive,vile,despicable and reprehensible.He should have been jailed.That is a Valid point.

Point 9;Kobby Acheampong, is an Akan insulting another Akan for his coarseness. How does that become an Anti-Akan?

Point 10;Kofi Opoku Manu, is an Akan.So, what is Anti-Akan about his comments?

Point 11; What sort of English don"t you understand? Ben Brentuo,is an Akan expressing his horror as to how Ashanti"s, as a branch of the Akan family are alienating other ethnic-minorities and the larger Akan family.Nothing Anti-Akan in there.

Point 12; Rawlings, probably wanted 2 kids and his Asante wife decided not to take her pills and they ended up having four. He is talking about Ashanti"s not Akans as a group.

Point 13;Rawlings, could well be talking from experience as to how JOT Agyemang,[Konadu Agyemang"s father] stole from GNTC. He was specific. Nothing Anti-Akan about that.The ordinary Kwahu/Akan guy in Nkawkaw is not going to loose sleep over that.

Point 14; They were complaining about being neglected.How can that be classified as Anti-Akan?

Point 15; Solomon Nkansah"s disgraceful comment was directed at Ashanti Region,not even to/at Ashanti"s as a tribe.Then also, not every person resident in Ashanti Region is an Akan.That said, Mr Nkansah, is an Akan.So, your Anti-Akan argument is baseless,flawed and bogus.I have used the word/term Ashanti/Asante freely.

Now, if you feel aggrieved as an Ashanti,you have every right to complain but do not hijack the word/term Akan. Akan is far bigger than Ashanti.Some of us a getting sick of people like you.The most diabolic act is for you to use Akan to represent Ashanti.
Humble Lion 8 years ago

Senseless post from a senseless being!

Senseless post from a senseless being!
Omane 8 years ago

Thank you.Perhaps Opoku Agyemang, can also explain to us what he thinks of Prez Mahama and ex Prez Rawling"s Akan wives and their half Akan born and bred children?

Thank you.Perhaps Opoku Agyemang, can also explain to us what he thinks of Prez Mahama and ex Prez Rawling"s Akan wives and their half Akan born and bred children?
asante 8 years ago

Let this go into the coconut skull of you, that the golden stool is the soul of Ashantis and it's only the command from the stool that will push Ashantis to do the unthinkable. ...it could be worst than what the Zulu king ...
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Let this go into the coconut skull of you, that the golden stool is the soul of Ashantis and it's only the command from the stool that will push Ashantis to do the unthinkable. ...it could be worst than what the Zulu king said ;don't ever forget that. Try and get a copy of the old ashanti portrait of odwira festival. Perhaps you will learn how to appreciate life and ignore all your rhetoric and the bellicose.
Yaw 8 years ago

Cabinet Ministers – Only 1 from Ashanti Region (20% of population)

Minister of Education Prof. Jane Nana Opoku Agyemang
Minister of Interior Mark Owen Woyongo
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Julius ...
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Cabinet Ministers – Only 1 from Ashanti Region (20% of population)

Minister of Education Prof. Jane Nana Opoku Agyemang
Minister of Interior Mark Owen Woyongo
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Julius Debrah
Minister of Women and Children's Affairs Nana Oye Lithur
Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Mr. Emmanuel Armarh Kofi Buah
Minister of Finance Mr Seth Terkper
Minister of Trade and Industry Ekwow Spio-Garbrah
Minister of Defence Benjamin Bewa-Nyog Kunbuor
Minister of Roads and Highways Alhaji Inusah Fuseini
Minister of Communication Dr Edward Omane Boamah
Minister of Health Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah
Minister of Food and Agriculture Fifi Fiavi Franklin Kwetey
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong
Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing Alhaji Collins Dauda
Minister of Environment Science and Technology Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Nii Osah Mills
Minister of Transport Mrs. Dzifa Attivor
Minister of Employment and Social Welfare Haruna Iddrisu
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ms Hannah Tetteh
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Madam Hanny-Sherry Ayittey
Non Cabinet Ministers – None from Ashanti Region (20% of population)
Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs Dr. Henry Seidu Daanaa
Ministry of Youth and Sports Mahama Ayariga
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare
Ministers of State – None from Ashanti Region (20% of population)
Minister of State Alhaji Rashid Pelpuo
Minister of State Mrs. Comfort Ghansah
Minister of State Dr. Mustapha Ahmed
Minister of State Elvis Afriyie- Ankrah
Yahaya 8 years ago

do you want to say Ashantis are not into tribal politics. even student politics they play trinal politics so let us call a spade a spade

do you want to say Ashantis are not into tribal politics. even student politics they play trinal politics so let us call a spade a spade
Yahaya 8 years ago

If Ghanaian wld be rational, the NPP will be in opposition for thy king Dom come, any time they see a northerner perspirin to the top of NPP the best they can do is to kill that fellow just like they did to Madam Hawa and Alh ...
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If Ghanaian wld be rational, the NPP will be in opposition for thy king Dom come, any time they see a northerner perspirin to the top of NPP the best they can do is to kill that fellow just like they did to Madam Hawa and Alhaji Maham both from Upper East. what a Notorious People Party (NPP)
Maame Grace 8 years ago

Another tribalistic fool

Another tribalistic fool
Joe/TX 8 years ago

This what I expected from you and not demeaning your flagbearer. Prof. Mills said"Adze WO fie a oye" and he was understood and voted for by his people.

This what I expected from you and not demeaning your flagbearer. Prof. Mills said"Adze WO fie a oye" and he was understood and voted for by his people.
Cyndi Akpovi 8 years ago

Thanks.

Thanks.

Tribal Politics - a Tool for NDC's Electoral Success?

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