Nasara UK condemns John Mahama’s Irresponsible comments

Nasara UK condemns John Mahama’s Irresponsible comments about Ashantis

''"If We Build Roads With Gold, Ashantis Won’t Appreciate" - Prez Mahama. Source Peace Fm.

This is a rather sad and shameful remark coming from a Head of State. It is even more worrying that lessons of tribal/ethnocentric remarks that tore a once beautiful Rwanda apart seem not to have been learnt.

Ghana has enjoyed relative peace and stability not because of our might, not because we are overly loved by GOD than other war torn Nations, but because we have remained tolerant of each other in the midst of adversity. We Ghanaians hold true to the belief that we are each other’s keeper, and this sense of love and unity binds us together. It is this bonded love that inspires us and would embolden and strengthen us to face the challenges of the 21st Century Ghana and Africa. It is also this unique Bond that makes us stand tall amongst our continental peers, and has richly blessed our nation with two outstanding statesmen – Pres Kufuor and Nana Akufo Addo - to lead the Commonwealth and African Union delegation to monitor the 2014 South African election. We did not achieve this feat by accident or chance; we worked hard at it as a nation of one people.

On what basis would we Ghanaians sit aloof and allow a failed President Mahama hide his incompetence by whipping up tribal/ethnocentric sentiments that could destroy a beautiful Country we built together. Would we sit and fold our arms under the guise of timidity to allow one of our own to make explosive remarks that has a potential of destroying the beautiful society we have collectively built over a 57year period? Certainly not!

Nasara UK wishes to advise our brother John Mahama and some of his ministers making similar comments, that the Nasara community and the North dissociate ourselves from his needlessly inflammatory remarks. We stand with our indignant and affronted brothers and sisters of the Ashanti Region in condemning this provocative and irresponsible opinion and remark of the president of the nation. Indeed the entire nation of Ghana is united as one people on this matter. We would not allow any failed president to spark up a rift between Northerners and Ashantis to satisfy their selfish political goals.

Instead of tackling incompetency and institutionalised corruption issues like SADA, GYEEDA, SUBA, WOYOME, etc, the president is rather making derogatory comments that have the tendency of sparking ethnic resentment in our peaceful motherland. It is also not a secret that the inefficient management of the economy has caused serious hardships for the people of Ghana including our fathers and mothers from the Zongo communities who wish to embark on this year’s Hajj. So therefore Mr President, please note that it is not only one region – the Ashantis - of the nation which complains about you and the NDC administration’s inefficiency, it is the entire nation! And until you do all you promised to do, we will never stop demanding what we were promised. Where did we go wrong by asking you to live up to your responsibilities and campaign promises?

We also consider very laughable, the NDC- style, belated attempt to smooth the edges, made in the daily graphic to discredit the content of the tape. Why is a simple, ‘I am sorry, didn’t intend it that way’, so difficult to utter? Then again, if indeed the president’s voice was doctored as the publication wants us to believe, why then did Mahama Ayariga shamelessly try to defend the president for saying what he said?

It is time John Mahama and the NDC government be made aware that Ghanaians will always seek accountability and would not sit unconcerned, and allow the greed of a president and his government to throw the country into chaos, and when that ensues, then they waltz off with loaded pockets to seek asylum elsewhere and leave the rest of us to burn, for all they care! The 21stcentury Ghanaian is discerning and wise, and will not fall for cheap and opportunistic diversionary tactics that this vile ethno-bashing comment intends.

Not very long ago, our dear president admonished Ghanaians against the dangers of having short memory. It is rather surprising that his utterances over the weekend portray him as someone whose memory is not longer than those he was advising. In counterpoint to his dismissive comment about the Ashantis, we would like to draw his Excellency’s attention to how voters in the Ashanti region have been grateful to his NDC party since 2000.

Election Year NDC (% vote gained) NPP (% vote gained)

2000 19.50% 80.50%

2004 21.84% 76.97%

2008 25.61% 74.39%

2012 28.35% 70.39%

It takes just one look at these figures to learn that, over the 12-year period between 2000 and 2012, the NDC’s share of the voting population in the Ashanti Region grew from a mere 19.50% to a respectable 28.35%. This is close to a 10% increase in the NDC popularity among Ashanti voters. Compare this to the NPP votes gained within the same period, from a jaw dropping 80% to a not too good 70.39%, i.e. a 10% drop in likeability in the Ashanti region.

It is quite ironic for the people of the Ashanti Region that have been so accepting of our brother JDM and his NDC party, to be described in such an uncharitable manner; “oh judgement thou art fled into Brutish beast and men have lost their reason”.

We of Nasara wish to plead with our dear brothers and sisters in this great region to forgive our brother for his short memory and ungratefulness. He is still our brother so we can afford to ceaseless keep reminding him of several favours the region has shown to his party. He is a student of history so we believe it wouldn’t take long for him to learn how the Ashantis and the Northerners have lived together and benefited from each other since creation. We will let him know why a Zongo community like Asawase is so close to Manhyia, the seat of the Royal Kingdom.

His Excellency, JDM needs to remember that the former military leader Gen. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong was an Asante but when his Supreme Military Council [SMC] regime couldn’t deliver, his own people from the region were the first to take him to the cleaners. Lesson; the people in this great region are very total in their frankness and will usually state it as it is, irrespective of who is involved. We cannot condone reverse discrimination where on one hand we decry instances of disrespect of Northerners, then have a Northern leader irresponsibly encourage ethnic disrespect, no matter at whom so directed.

Nasara NPP UK believes in a United Ghana, where the typical strength of everyone is brought together to achieve what is best for the country. We strongly abhor divisive tribal/ethnocentric comments that seek to weaken our common bond and risk tearing apart our beautiful Nation. We condemn the unguarded remarks made by Pres. John Mahama in Kumasi over the weekend. This is not the first of such comments being made by John Mahama and it is time he puts a stop to it, or be made to pay for it – at the polls. We are aware that John Mahama believes he has the North and Zongo Community conveniently wrapped up in his pocket with sympathy/solidarity after making such irresponsible statements. We of the Nasara community however, disassociate ourselves as Northerners/ Zongo dwellers from those comments, and in the strongest of terms, condemn these remarks by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.

One Nation, One People, One Ghana, One Destiny!!!

Co-authored by the leadership of

Nasara NPP UK Branch