All must say no to negative ethnocentrism - CODEC urged

Ethnicity as a concept is not too bad. But when it is abused, it becomes potentially destructive to the governance process of a country.

It is in this light that a group known as, ‘Coalition for the Defence of Equal Citizenship’ (CODEC), opposed to negative cultural superiority in the body politic of Ghana, is calling on Ghanaians to condemn comments made by former Finance/Youth and Sports Minister in the John Kufuor administration, Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo, in a meeting with party elders in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region.

As part of its commitment to protecting and defending the right of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, CODEC, is inviting all to join its peaceful march today, in protest, as to why the peace and unity enjoyed in the country over the years should not be taken for granted by self-seeking politicians like the Yaw Osafo Marfo’s case currently under discussion.

A voice resembling that of Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo, during a gathering of party members at Koforidua in the Eastern region, suggests the former Finance and Economic Planning and another time Youth and Sports Minister, was heard saying: “…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.”

“You can’t say this openly,” he cautioned the Council members of the party’s Eastern regional branch, when he met them: 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 above comments allegedly made by Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo, is what has necessitated the peaceful march by CODEC, as it urges Ghanaians to say a big ‘NO’ to tribalism, ethnocentrism and regionalism, frowned upon by the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The unity march titled, “We are all equal” is scheduled to start from Obra Spot, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, at 6am prompt today.

According to the group, no single person’s parochial interest should be allowed to supersede that of the nation like some political tradition in the country would want Ghanaians to believe; hence, the need for all and sundry to join the march for peace against all forms of discrimination, particularly, on tribal sentiments.

However, Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo, is reported to have said that the said audio tape has been doctored, even though, he has not denied knowledge of the tape.