NPP Deliberately Preaching Tribalism—Omane Boamah

Irmo, SC

22nd February, 2015

Mt attention has been drawn to the above published on Ghanaweb and other media . According to the report, while speaking on the infamous “ALHAJI AND ALHAJI” program of Radio Gold yesterday, the Honorable Minister for Communication, Dr. Omane Boamah accused the NPP of deliberately preaching tribalism ahead of the 2016 elections. The Minister’s assertion follows the leaked tape purported to contain remarks made by Honorable Osafo Marfo in an NPP meeting.

While the remarks attributed to Osafo Marfo should be condemned if true, the Minister mis-communicated badly. The NDC looks like the proverbial kettle calling the teapot black when it accuses the NPP of tribalism. The truth is that there is a long record of NDC leaders making ethnically divisive comments in our politics—just as there is in the NPP. Presidents Rawlings, Mills and Mahama have ALL made such remarks in the past. The last of the many such instances was when President Mahama told a rally in the north, in the final days of the 2012 ELECTION CAMPAIGN that “if you want a northern president, vote for me”. When Ghanaians go to the polls to vote for a President, they do not go to vote for a southern president or a northern President. They vote for a PRESIDENT OF ONE INDVISIBLE GHANA--- SO HELP US GOD! When I condemned the President for those remarks, I do not recall Omane Boamah or any other NDC member joing me in that condemnation. Furthermore, I do not recall any NDC condemnation of Presidents Rawlings or Mills when they made their ethnic and divisive comments.

Since charity begins at home, I urge NDC members to call their leaders out for making ethnically divisive comments before turning to the NPP.

I have a public record of condemning such comments and behavior, regardless of who is guilty and I urge Omane Boamah and others to join me and other patriotic Ghanaians in instituting a “zero tolerance “policy for such conduct. We must insist that Ghanaians, regardless of ethnic or regional origin are equal and may aspire to any position.

Let us move forward together.

Arthur Kobina Kennedy