Gonjaland Youth Association Tackles Bugri Naabu And Konkomba Youth Groups

We have observed with great concern the agitation by a number of Konkomba Youth groups and individuals in the country about perceived neglect of Konkombas by President John Dramani Mahama because he is a Gonja.

In March, 2014 a group called the Konkomba Yam Market Association addressed a news conference and among other issues said; "His Excellency, John Mahama rewarded his own ethnic group (Gonjas) with 12 ministerial appointments and counting, 11 ministerial appointments for Dagombas and zero (0) for the Konkombas”.

This is definitely not true because Gonjas have only a Regional Minister and two Deputy Ministers with none of them being a cabinet minister.

Another Konkomba Youth group “Tikpaan 4 NPP” as recent as January 2015 accused President John Dramani Mahama of appointing one Mr. Roland Kofi Mbui, President of the Konkomba Youth Association, as a Presidential Staffer to disunite Konkombas. Addressing a press conference in Accra a spokesperson of the group said; “We believe that the total absence of Konkombas from President Mahama's ministerial appointments is a deliberate attempt to marginalize and render Konkombas vulnerable in several ways and this could be due to hatred.”

We cannot fathom why a group would complain of the President not appointing one of them and at the same time against the appointment of their leading member. This is the work of detractors who are working to court disaffection for President Mahama and Gonjas . It is worrying when purely political and administrative matters are seen in ethnic lenses.

We have also observed that Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, President of the Konkomba Development Association (KODA), has also incessantly accused President John Dramani Mahama of sidelining Konkombas in his administration by not appointing any Konkomba as a cabinet minister. It is unfortunate that Mr. Daniel Bugri Naabu who should know better has consistently and without any reason always incited Konkombas against President Mahama.

We do not think it is wrong to call for inclusiveness of all ethnic groups in President Mahama's administration of the country but such calls should be devoid of polarisation of the people of the Northern Region. We owe it as a duty to ensure that leadership of all ethnic Youth groups and individuals strives to maintain the current peaceful atmosphere enjoyed by the people of the North.

In all these statements the groups and individuals have made it seem like Gonjas have a problem with Konkombas and so President John Mahama, a Gonja is punishing them simply because they are Konkombas. We are convinced the actions of the groups and individuals is parochial and aim at creating a wedge between Konkombas and Gonjas which will not help us move forward as a people but will rather retrogress us.

We are therefore by this statement calling on all ethnic groups in the North to disregard all insightful statements and also call on Ghanaians especially people of Northern descent to condemn the actions of the groups and individuals.

There is no doubt that, Komkombas are discerning enough and appreciate all efforts made by President Mahama to better the conditions of the people of the region and the nation as a whole irrespective of ethnicity.

We are also glad discerning Konkombas are not comfortable with the unguided statements from the groups and individuals. We on our part respect all ethnic groups and therefore call on them to eschew pronouncements that seek to divide us as a people but rather concentrate our energies on issues that bind us as one people.

We must work to secure the peace, unity and development for our people, particularly the youth because these are the principles in which our Associations were formed. The Gonjaland Youth Association has collaborated with the Konkomba Youth Association on several matters that had the potential to degenerate into disagreement and many other issues that aim at promoting development in the North and wish that continues in the spirit of brotherhood and understanding.

Finally we urge all Konkomba Youth groups and individuals to desist from making ethnocentric and inflammatory comments because we are in an area which has got its peculiarities and its own history of strives and conflicts. We must avoid statements that have the tendency to create discord between all ethnic groups in Northern Ghana.

Thank you.
……………………………………………..
MR ALHASSAN DRAMANI
(PRESIDENT, GONJALAND YOUTH ASSOCIATION)