The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has characterized elections in Ghana as a direct competition between Ashantis and Ewes, urging people in the Volta region to embrace the NDC as their religion.
Speaking during a tour of the Volta Region with John Dramani Mahama, the NDC flagbearer, Mr. Kwetey urged people from the region to familiarize themselves with the opposition party, embrace it, and believe in it, regardless of its performance in government and its contribution to the development of the region.
“Your religion may not be the best, but that is your religion. It is your responsibility to make sure that you fix it, you change it. You bring changes within that religion,” he said.
He indicated that the people of the Ashanti Region and, to some extent, the Eastern Region, support the NPP, and it shouldn’t be considered negative if those in the Volta Region support the NDC.
He pointed out that in advanced democracies, different geographical locations align with various political parties, and there is nothing wrong with Ghana treating elections as an Ashanti-Ewe affair.
“Ghana politics is Ashanti vs. Ewes, and that is why, as a Voltarian, you must take NDC like your religion. Whether good or bad, you must stand by it, and defend the party with your life. If you go to Ashanti and the Eastern region, they always vote for the NPP, but here in the Volta, our youth are running away from our party and joining the Ashantis in their party. It is shameful,” he said.
“You talk to some young people of Volta, they think it is something of pride to say ‘as for us, we are not like our forefathers and uncles, and we believe that we should not continue with that [supporting the NDC]’. There is nothing wrong holding onto the foundation; that is the clear foundation, that has built our culture,” he said.
This is the second time the NDC scribe has repeated such ethnocentric comments, receiving widespread condemnation when he first made them.
Efforts
Some Ghanaians have condemned such acts, saying it undermines efforts to promote national cohesion.
In December 2018, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made commendable efforts to bridge ethnic divides by hosting Tobgui Sri III, the Awoemefia of the Anlo Traditional Area, as the special guest of honour at the Akwasidae festival.
This symbolic gesture was hailed as an embodiment of unity, celebrating the historical harmony between Ewes and Asantes.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II acknowledged the disruptive influence of politics in attempting to divide the Ghanaian people during his address.
