Osafo-Maafo is a "dishonest" man – Kwakye Ofosu

Former flagbearer-aspirant of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Osafo-Maafo is a "dishonest" man, Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has said.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu told Joy FM’s news analysis programme newsfile hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini that the former finance minister’s denial of ever making ethnocentric comments as purportedly captured on an audio tape betrays his insincerity.

"I’m sorry to have to say this but he came across as a dishonest person who didn’t want to take responsibility for his actions," Mr Kwakye Ofosu said, adding: "…Don’t come and deny what is so obvious that everybody can attest to."

The secretly recorded audio tape circulating on both social and traditional media captured a male voice resembling that of the former Minister 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 recorded 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.

“You can’t say this openly,” he cautioned the Council members, but added that they are at liberty to talk about it among Asantes.

“We should protect ourselves, we should protect our income. No one who is the source of income, the source of revenue, the source of resources allows another person without those resources the chance [to rule over them].

“It’s never done anywhere in the world. In the world over, it is the group with the most resources that rules and not the other way around,” the voice said.

In the estimation of the voice, “86.5 percent of resources in Ghana come from five regions: Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern, Western and Central. This is where 86 percent of the resources of Ghana come from… And the oil was also discovered in the West. It will change the formula to about 90 percent. We cannot ignore these five regions. We should not,” the voice added.

Mr Osafo-Maafo has come out publicly to say his voice has been doctored on the tape, even though he did not deny speaking at the said event. He accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of manipulating his voice “mischievously” for propaganda purposes.