Kusasis rubbish Mamprusis' uproar…Against Interior Minister-designate

THE KUSASI community in the Ashanti region have thrown their weight behind Honourable Cletus Avoka, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebila and the Interior Minister designate, whose nomination by President John Evans Atta Mills is being challenged by a section of his constituents.

The Ashanti Kusasi group hold a contrary view and believe that Hon. Avoka is a peaceful man who has no hand in the Bawku conflict, as is being claimed by a group calling itself "The concerned youth of Bawku".

According to them, there was no evidence that Hon. Avoka played any role in the Bawku conflict and that he would not stoop so low to involve himself in divisive tribal politics.

In a statement issued in Kumasi on Thursday, and jointly signed by the Head of the Kusasi Community, Chief Edward Azumah Ndagu, and the General Secretary, Nicholas Agbango, they said "Hon. Cletus Avoka is no novice in politics and has held the position of Upper East Regional Minister and different Ministerial appointments during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration from 1992 to 2000. The group averred that the Hon. MP was never found to have used his position to discriminate against minority ethnic groups in Bawku.

The Association said Ghanaians should be rest assured that Hon. Cletus Avoka, like most peace loving citizens in the Bawku Traditional area and Ghana as a whole, believe in using dialogue instead of beating war drums.

The group also stated that Hon. Avoka is the right person for the Interior Ministry.

Hon. Cletus Avoka is a Kusasi and a three time MP for Zebila. He is also a lawyer by profession and in which capacity he was engaged as counsel for the Kusasis, which job he executed within his constitutional and democratic right.

Meanwhile, President John Evans Atta Mills and Vice President John Dramani Mahama have been congratulated for "their God ordained victory" at the December 2008 elections.

In a statement copied to The Chronicle last Thursday, Chief Edward Azuma Ndagu and the chairman of the Kusasi Youth Association, Abdul Rahaman Mumuni, said the Kusasi community have confidence in the competency and capability of His Excellency, President Mills in his determination to move the country forward in the right direction.

They also extended their gratitude to the President for giving Hon. Mahama Ayariga the opportunity to serve the country in the high office of spokesperson to the President of the Republic.