KAKRA ESSAMUAH AND NDC MUST STOP PROMOTING TRIBALISM
There was a time Mr Kakra Essamuah, a former member of the New Patriotic Party
and now with the National Democratic Congress was seen as a man of honesty and
integrity. That integrity and honesty vanished the day he started to play the tribal card,
in a desperate response to Mr P.C. Appiah Ofori's comments and protest on the lack
of recognition and response from the Oguaahene, after the Oguaa Tradtional Council
had invited Nana Akufo Addo to the Fetu Afahye Festival. While one may not
condone Mr P.C Appiah Ofori's actions, Nana Akufo Addo party leader and NPP
PresidentIal candidiate has publicly distanced himself from his outbursts and has
ft made it' clear that he and the party would continue to honour invitations from the chief
. and every other chief in Ghana.
J( .The most disgusting part was when he tried to play the tribal card by saying NPP as a
'party and a tradition do not like Fantes. We reject these comments and reject his
attempts to sow seeds of division among Ghanaians. In fact the traditions ofNPP
began with the contributions ofPaa Grant who financially bankrolled the formation of
the United Ghana Gold Coast Convention, the first political party in Ghana. Our party
has produced some of greatest statesmen of fante origin. Kwesi Lamptey was Deputy
Prime Minister under Dr Kofi Busia, K,B. Brown was deputy General Manager of
Ghana News Agency, Stephen Krakue also a former Minister under Dr Busia, is
credited with reviving and laying the foundations of Modern day NPP, Bl Da Rocha
who was the first National Chairman ofNPP, Kwesi Brew was the party's National
Treasurer, l.A. Addison and Kofi Dzane Selby, Sekyi Hughes former Parliamentary
speaker were all founding members. Today NPP has the likes of Alan Kyerematen,
Dr.Arthur Kennedy, Issac Edumadze, Christine Churcher, Joe Ghartey, Jojo Essel
Cobbah, Michael Ampong, Francis Essiam, Danquah Smith, Amponsah Dadzie and
many others preparing the party for elections in 2012. Perhaps Kakra Essamuah can
explain how NPP has won elections in Central Region and held Cape Coast from
2000 to 2004. We also had 46% of the vote from the 2008 elections. Surely Professor
Mills ifhe is so well liked should get 90% of the votes!!!!
It is also interesting that Kakra Essamuah failed to talk about fante personalities such
as Lt Colonel Ekow Dennis, Colonel Enninful, Colonel Bernasko, Captain Holbrook
Smith, Ray Kakraba Quarshie and others, who suffered under the rule of Mr
Rawlings his mentor in the 1980s and were driven into exile, and in some cases lost
their lives. Other Fantes like Kakraba Cromwell, who was beaten and tortured,
Kwaku Baako who was imprisoned, Kwesi Pratt who was imprisoned and tortured
and had his fingernails pulled and Ben Ephson who as correspondent for West Africa
Magazine was imprisoned in 1987 on suspicion being a spy for the British
intelligence services. What about Brigadier General W.M. Mensa Wood former Army
commander during the PNDC years who DIED UNDER VERY MYSTERIOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES? We also know of Major Sam Acquah who was killed together
with the 3 judges. What about the late Mr Kow Nkensen Arkaah, 1stVice President
of the 4threpublic and dedicated Nkrumaist who was slapped several times around
the face at cabinet meetings by Mr Rawlings ?
We also know ofChristine Churcher and Francis Essiam, Fantes who were chased
out of the NDC and nearly lost their lives for expressing their views. Is Kakra
Essamuah ignorant or chose to suffer memory loss to these events?
Mr Essamuah should not try to rewrite history and throw dust into the eyes of
Ghanaians by playing tribal politics. He should stop displaying such arrogance and
rather explain to us why youth unemployment is currently running at 40% in and
around Cape Coast, his own backyard, twice the National Average, where the cold
stores his party promised the fishing communities, which is in their manifesto are,
why only 800 school uniforms have only been distributed to school children instead
of 28,000 in his district, why fishermen are buying premix at astronomical black
market prices, why there is shortage of Gas and why our youth have been reduced to
seizing public toilets.
We once again plead with our hardworking radio stations not to allow their premises
to be used by any individual or any political party to promote and propagate tribalism
.ih Ghana: We are one nation, one people and have an obligation to build a strong
~ted and prosperous country.
Nana Yaw Sarpong
Communications Officer
NPP UK and Ireland