PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY NPP CENTRAL REGION ON SATURDAY JUNE 9, 2012 ON THE INSULT ON THE PEOPLE OF EKUMFI BY THE CENTRAL REGIONAL MINISTER-AMA BENYIWA DOE

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the media. We have invited you here this morning and the reason is a very sad one. That, on Thursday June 7, 2012 there were ethnic clashes between the people of Ekumfi Narkwa and their Ewe settler neighbours. This was after the decapitated body of a chief of Ekumfi Narkwa allegedly murdered by unknown assailants from the Ewe settler community was found buried in his own farm. The clashes resulted in a further loss of two lives from the Ekumfi Narkwa township.

Ladies and Gentlemen, every well-meaning, reasonable and fellow-feeling person under such an unfortunate incident which involves destruction of property, injuries and loss of human lives would, if not in the least console and sympathize with the victims, not add painful insults to their suffering.

It is in this light that the NPP Central Region finds the comments of the Central Regional Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, most appalling and degrading of the intelligence of the people of Ekumfi Narkwa in particular and the entire Ekumfiman and by extension Bobor Mfantse in general. Her comments were that what happened at Ekumfi Narkwa happened because the people of Ekumfi heeded the alleged call by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong for Fantes to attack Ewes.

Ladies and Gentlemen, what this ill-informed ,most ugly and despicable statement from a minister of state means is that the people of Ekumfi and by extension Fantes do not have a head of their own and therefore incapable of deciphering between good and bad. Our position is that in such sorrowful moments, we will place ourselves in the stead of the affected individuals and families and extend to them love and care to calm their grieving nerves.

Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe unfortunately by her utterances and actions in the Ghanaian political landscape has not proved worthy of age, life experience and opportunities offered to serve in government. We call on the President to publicly censure her and also call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn this non-performing Minister who is only seeking to thrive on divisions among the Ghanaian people, in no uncertain terms.

At this point, we wish to call on the police to speed up investigations into this heinous crime in order to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

We wish also to use this opportunity to extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and to assure them of our party's unwavering support in these trying moments. We also call on the people of Ekumfi Narkwa to remain calm and not to do anything that will further breach the peace of the area. Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen for your attention.

Signed
Kwamena Duncan
(NPP Central Regional Secretary)
Tel: 0244659520