'BE DECORUS IN YOUR UTTERANCES' – VOLTA YOUTH GROUP TELLS AKUFO-ADDO AND JOHN MAHAMA

A youth group from the Volta Region of Ghana, Volta Yoth For Development (VYD), has expressed disgust at the sad incidents of name callings that has characterized Ghana’s political scene.


According to the group, although it condemns the Flagbeaerer of the NDC for referring to the people of Akyems, and for that matter, the President and his cabinet as “Akyems Sakawa’ Mafias”, it also likewise, condemns President Akufo-Addo for casting similar aspersions on the people of the Northern region.

These comments generated some repressions from both the people of Bole and Okyeman who have called for apologies from both sides whilst issuing threats to these waders not to set foot on their lands to campaign.

However, VYD beleives that the genesis of all these exchanges was when the National Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay virtually insulted the King of the Asogli Kingdom, Togbe Afede IV who is also the National President of House of Chiefs, some three years ago.

According to the group, the NPP failed to call Freddie Blay to order, neuter was he made to apologize to the people of the Volta Region.

They said, the time has come for this to stop.

Read full statement below:

We have observed with great disappointment the reduction of Ghana’s once enviable politicking to that of name callings and total disrespect to leadership.
Indeed, one would have thought that our political leaders would be decorous in their utterances as the nation approaches the December elections.

Over the past few weeks, the nation had been flooded with news of the Flagbeaerer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama post on his WhatsApp page referring to the executives involved in the controversial Agyapa Deal which includes President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as ‘Akyem Sakawa’ boys.
The people of Okyeman held a demonstration in protest against that comment and warned the NDC and John Mahama not to set foot on their land to campaign.

The people of Bole in a like manner, also sent similar signal to the President and the NPP not to come to the area to campaign if their threat holds.

This, we believe is not healthy for our growing democracy.
Political parties make impact through their campaigns and it is the campaigns that give them the opportunity to interact with the constituents, propagating what each of them as political party will do for their people.

Demonstrating and warning or preventing politicians from campaigning in a particular area is a very bad culture to be introduced into our system.

However, it will help when we cast our minds back to the root of all these name callings. We Voltarians have suffered for ages this name calling and insults in diverse ways from high profile politicians whom should have been called to order. But we remain calm because we are just peace loving even though we are not weak.

It would be recall that the National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had referred to the King of the Asogli Kingdom, Togbe Afede IV, who couples as National House of Chiefs President and a Member of Council of State as a palm wine tapper.

This comment at the time generated heated anger among the people of the Volta Region who saw Freddie Blay’s comment against their King as an insult to the whole Region.
Similar demonstration was held and a call was made on Freddie Blay to apologize and retract his statement.

The NPP Chairman flatly refused to apologize and retract his statement. The NPP saw nothing wrong with his comments and never called on him to respect the decisions of the people of the Volta Region.
Our point is that, all the happenings currently are the outcome of the seed from previous happenings which was overlooked especially that of Freddie Blay some three years ago.

Now the Akyems are calling on the NDC not to campaign in their constituencies, the Bole people are also calling on the NPP not to campaign on their soil.

Would it be prudent for the people of the Volta Region to make similar call on the NPP since there National Chairman ‘insulted’ their King?
If this goes on, would it impact on our democracy?
We the youth of the Volta region therefore with immediate effect call for a halt on this tribal bigotry so it doesn’t generate into something unanticipated. 

We the ewes have endured, so should others. Both political parties have avail their manifestos for Ghanaians to scrutinize for their decision come December 7th, lets free the media landscape and reduce tension for such important activities. We henceforth advise all, irrespective of your power or position to be decorum in your address to tribes. We are all Ghanaians and should be fairly treated as such. We are one.