Naa Toshie’s politics of insult and ethnocentrism

Information gathered from Ho indicates that Hon Naa Toshie, Hon Collins Ntim and Chairman Divine of Gt. Accra held a joint meeting of regional executives, constituency chairmen and MMDCEs from Volta and Oti Regions.

The meeting was to “sell” the candidacy of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB) but disguised as one to discuss the offer of logistical support to fishermen and farmers as well as the supply of jerseys, footballs and other sporting equipment to the youth.

ETHNOCENTRISM:
Naa Toshie preached tribalism and domination of minority tribes over the majority. According to Naa Toshie, she’s a Ga by tribe, in her estimation a minority tribe. She also said her husband is an Ewe, another minority tribe. She invited the delegates perceived to be from minority tribes to support DMB who is also from a minority tribe in the north. She suggested to delegates to support DMB - the representative of the minorities - against candidates from the majority tribes.

Hon Collins Ntim told the delegates he was an Asante yet he had abandoned his Asante folks who were contesting with DMB. He mentioned Dr Afriyie Akoto as one who helped in making him a deputy Minister yet he found solace in abandoning his tribesmen and supporting DMB so they could put John Mahama to shame for alleging that DMB couldn’t lead the NPP as a northerner.

NAA TOSHIE’S INSULTS:
Hon Naa Toshie said one of the presidential candidates was all over the place telling delegates what he had done for the party. She described such conduct as immature and coming from the loudmouth. She asked delegates if they knew the person and they responded in unison that they knew him. Delegates were heard murmuring that if a candidate doesn’t tell them what he/she has done for the party, how will they know his/her contributions to the party insisting that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a candidate telling delegates what he had done for the party, provided it’s factual and verifiable. Let people like Naa Toshie and her cohorts continue to major in the minors. “The delegates will continue to appreciate candidates who have made significant contributions to the fortunes of the party from 1992 to date, not a Latter Day Saint who has no personal contributions to show”, a delegate who pleaded anonymity remarked.

POST NAA TOSHIE’s VISIT:
After the meeting with Hon Naa Toshie and others, the common question on the lips of delegates was: what message did Naa Toshie and her group deliver to convince delegates to support DMB? The short answer was a No message. that’s why the meeting appeared to be a campaign of unprovoked and unjustified personal attacks, insults and ethnocentrism.

Historically, voters have always despised candidates and their agents who have resorted to degrading their opponents in elections to gain an undue advantage. It always hits back at such adversaries like the Australian Aboriginal boomerang. The living God is wide awake. People with sardonic, sharp and acerbic tongues in the nature of Naa Toshie shall be swept and dumped in the dustbin where they appropriately belong. She has no role in our political space.

Edem Dogbatse
Agbozume, VR