Haruna apologises over Ashanti Region comment

Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has retracted and apologised for a question he posed to the Ashanti Region Minister-designate during Wednesday’s vetting.

Iddrisu wanted to find out from Mr Samuel Sarpong if other ethnic groups, particularly those from the Northern and Volta extraction, were safe in the Ashanti Region.


His question raised a lot of eye brows with the Ashanti Region caucus of Parliament demanding that he retracts and apologises for his comments.


Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey reported the Chairperson of the Ashanti Region caucus, Elizabeth Agyeman, as saying that Mr Iddrisu’s question was needless and only sought to hurt the sensibilities of those living in the Ashanti Region.


Worse still, the question had the potential of raising tension in the region, the chairperson of the caucus told the media.


She maintained indigenes in the Ashanti Region have for years lived in peace with all ethnic groups in the region and wondered what will trigger such a question from a Minister of State and a Member of Parliament.

She was also not impressed with the Minister-designate's response. But Haruna Iddrisu has since apologised for his question.


“Any person or group of persons who feel offended by that statement, I profoundly regret the statement,” he said.


He added though that the question was not a statement of fact but just to elucidate a response from the Minister and to assure that all ethnic groups are safe and protected.


“I have no intention of igniting any fire, particularly, matters that will border on the emotional issue of ethnicity and the primary groups to which people belong,” he stated.