By Cecil Mensah
The Volta Regional House of Chiefs has called on all Votarians to stay calm and treat the comments of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North in the Central Region Mr. Kennedy Agyepong with all the contempt deserve.
Mr. Agyepong , barely a month ago, nearly threw Ghana into chaos when he went on his ‘Oman Fm’ radio station, ranting and raving that Ashantis should kill all Ewes and Gas in the Ashanti Region because Akans in the Odododiodiodo Constituency in the Greater Accra were being prevented from participating in the Biometric Registration exercise.
Reacting to the genocidal vituperations of the NPP MP, the Volta Chiefs led by Togbe Afede , Paramount Chief of Ho Asogli State, mince no words in condemning the hate statements of the NPP stalwart and financier, saying “We believe the expressions were his personal desires and that ‘Votarians should be assured that Volta Region will continue to be relevant in the nation’s developmental process and will forever remain part of peaceful in the wake of all these genocidal attacks’.
A statement released to the press, and confirmed by Clement Kojo Tse, the Registrar of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs said Ewes like all other Ghanaians are committed to a united country and would not be pushed by any divisive individual to derail this progressive commitment’.
The statement said between the peace the nation had enjoyed over the years and the chaos that had engulfed some of the unfortunate neighbours , the choice is clear : ‘enhancing peace and every behaviour and action that promotes peace is the prudent option’ and not war.
The statement said the increasing suspicion, rivaly, and sometimes tension, among the various ethnic groups do not auger well for the progress of the country.
‘Politics should not be an end in itself’ in Consistent with the 1992 Constitution, it should create a strong Ghana by strengthening loyalty to the State while reducing the appeal of tribal ethnicity’ said the statement.
It added that in the run –up to the December 2012 elections, it was unfortunate that the appeal to tribalism and separateness had once again become a strategy of choice.
‘While politicians have the right to pursue power, they should remember that those who aspire to lead also have a right to peace and true democracy.’ the statement said
The statement called on all Ghanaians to receive with skepticism politics that play on the forces that divide the country and play on the sentiments that make life uncomfortable for the ordinary people.
‘We want to place on record our appreciation of the existing bonds of friendship between various Ewes and Ashanti chiefs’, the chiefs asserted
They among other things called on the various security agencies to deal appropriately with individuals and groups, who would want to disturb the peace that has become the distinguishing feature of the country.
They pledged their commitment to working for the cause of unity, peace and development of the entire nation.
