Prez Mahama Throws Konkombas Into Political Dustbin

During the heat of the 2012 political electioneering, rumours were rife across Konkomba Land that Prez Mahama, then NDC flag bearer, has agenda to suppress and relegate Konkombas to political obscurity if he wins the election.

The rumours carried so much weight that Prez Mahama rushed to Saboba, the traditional capital of Konkomba people, to dispel the rumours and tag it as politically motivated. The rumours were premised on Konkomba past relation with Gonja, the tribe that Prez Mahama belongs to.

Since Ghana's return to democracy, Konkombas, on average, vote NDC. However, they may now shift their votes from NDC to NPP in view of the clear agenda of Prez Mahama to supress Konkombas. The NPP, on the other hand, have clearly recognised Konkomba people.

The NPP under the leadership of Prez John Agyekum Kuffour fielded a Konkomba as Deputy Northern Regional Minister who was later promoted as Local government Minister, a Konkomba as Deputy Volta Regional Minister and a Konkomba as Deputy Minister for Manpower. Currently, Konkombas have 'big' posts in NPP's political structure including the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, the deputy General Secretary and the NPP Northern regional chairman. Despite this, Konkombas did not withdraw significantly from voting NDC because former Prez John Rawlings also fielded Konkombas during his government in different portfolios.

Prez John Evans Atta Mills appointed two Konkombas as Ministers: a Northern Regional Minister and a Minister of State. Prez Mahama on winning the election appointed a Konkomba as Fisheries Minister. He was removed in a reshuffle!

With the final ministerial reshuffle list out, Konkombas are already discussing the fact that the rumours that were peddled during the electioneering period, concerning Prez Mahama's plans to suppress Konkombas, are indeed true. Because this is the first time in the 4th Republic that Konkombas have no place in a fully constituted government, and it is during the tenure of no other president but under Prez Mahama, a Gonja. If the principle of equality, which ensures peace and development, is anything to go by, Gonjas would not have 3 ministers and board Chair persons whilst Konkombas have none. Clearly, and at least, with reference to Northern Region, we can conclude that Prez Mahama is doing Politics of Ethnicity so we can call him a Gonja president. The vast uninhabited Gonjaland must not deceive Prez Mahama. Landmass does not vote!!!

Konkombas in Ghana are a clear majority over Gonjas with a ratio of 3:1, according to the 2010 Census figures. In fact, Konkombas are on record as the second largest ethnic group coming after Dagombas in Northern region and the second largest coming after Ewes in Volta region. Nationally, Konkombas number about a million people.

In terms of qualified persons, Konkombas do not lack and during the 2012 elections, Konkombas voted massively for the NDC although NPP had their share of votes from Konkomba dominated areas. Of the 10 Konkomba MPs, 7 are NDC but none of them knows the road to the Ministries or the chambers of government constituted boards. Even in those Konkomba areas where NPP won parliamentary seats, Prez Mahama won the presidential votes over Nana Akuffo Addo.

Following the release of the final list of ministers, Konkombas are in a statement of disappointment because they have no representation in Prez Mahama's government. Prez Mahama has brought to light what he thinks of Konkombas. What is now clear is that the NDC government under Prez Mahama, is forcefully pushing Konkombas to join the NPP. If this were the case, a clear voting pattern, in favour of NPP, would emerge in the north-eastern part of the Northern Region and Northern part of Volta Region where Konkombas have heavy numerical dominance. This would then be very much akin to the voting pattern in Ashanti and Volta regions that are in favour of NPP and NDC respectively.

What the NDC and Prez Mahama must know is that a slight change in the voting pattern of Konkombas in favour of NPP will see the (Gonja) NDC government packing from the Flagstaff house in 2016. Konkombas have their political appointments taken from them by Prez Mahama but their numerical superiority cannot be taken.

Moses Mananyi Kupabado
NDC Youth Activist in Konkombaland