Kwamena Duncan has lashed out at the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Fiifi Kwetey, over the latter’s recent ethnocentric comments regarding Ghana’s elections.
He has also bemoaned the fact that nearly a week after the remarks were made, the NDC has not thought it prudent to distance itself from it.
Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” Wednesday morning, the former Central Minister quoted Fiifi Kwetey as saying Ghana’s elections are a contest between Voltarians and Ashantis.
According to Kwamena Duncan, the NDC bigwig sought to pitch the two tribes against each other by denigrating the Asante clan in the country.
He found Mr. Kwetey’s comments very distasteful but noted the NDC General Secretary’s comments reflect the true character of the opposition party.
“When I heard the voice, I cringed…A General Secretary of a political party could reduce the entire country to this level, that the elections is between Ewes against Asantes. Wow! So, he means if you are an Asante in the NDC, you don’t belong…The NDC is telling us that if they come into office, they must not be hearing names like Sarpong, Opoku…These are the enemies of the people”, he told host Nana Yaw Kesseh.
Kwamena admonished Ghanaians to beware of the NDC, especially as the nation goes into the polls on December 7.
“I tell you this is the policy and trademark of the party because they don’t accept it, this man made these very, very potentially divisive explosive remarks more than a week ago, the party has not, as we speak, issued a statement to dissociate itself…It is the conception they have about the people of Ashanti Region. This country is bigger, far, far bigger but it is a major caution to all of us”, he cautioned.
Background
The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fiifi Kwetey is said to have incited people of the Volta Region to compel their children and the youth in the Region to refrain from making independent political choices but only accept the NDC as their favorite political party.
“It looks as if it is wrong for us, Volta people, to take NDC as a religion. There is nothing wrong with that. Some of our young people from Volta, think it is something of pride to say as for us we are not like our fathers and uncles, we believe we should not [just accept something they believe in, and that it is something of pride to choose to be independent minded].
“This party [NDC] may not be the perfect party. It may not be a party that has always delivered on all its promises, but it is our responsibility to ensure that our children remain loyal to this commission to be able to make it better, Fiifi Kwetey is heard saying in a voice recording.
“If you watch what happens in Ashanti and the Eastern Region, they understand that their party must be their party, and nothing changes. Somehow, they appreciate that they must not forsake their party because this must become a religion. Your religion may not be the best, but that is your religion, and it is your responsibility to make sure you fix it.”
The NDC General Secretary reportedly told NDC supporters in a secret meeting in the Volta Region.
He is also quoted as saying “I think we must let our people [Voltarians] appreciate that this is who we are. If you go to America today if you go to New York State, the democratic party is like a religion, through rain or shine, that is your political party. If you go to California, it is the same. If you go to places where the Republicans are, it is the same. There is nothing wrong with it”.
It is these remarks that Kwamena Duncan excoriated while delivering his submissions on Kokrokoo this morning.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
