Hundreds of people on Thursday joined the Forum for Accountable Leadership (FAL), a pressure group based in Tamale and several other youth groups in the northern region demonstrated against ethnocentric comment made by a former finance minster, Yaw Osafo Marfo in a leaked tape.
In the said tape, a voice resembling that of Mr Osafo-Maafo was heard complaining that even though about 90 per cent of Ghana’s natural resources is concentrated in mainly Akan-speaking regions of the country, people from regions without resources are the ones governing the country.
The groups were drawn from youth groups loyal to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some executives of the two major political parties in Ghana omcondemns any tribal statement saying it poses threat to social cohesion and national securinty.
The turn-out though was not to the expectation of the organizers, the organizers said their message for unity and togetherness went on well.
Over two hundred youth groups declared their intension to join FAL to register their displeasure through street protest but a little of over one fifty people turns out.
Addressing the crowd the Spokesperson of FAL, Saani Mohammed Lukman said the purpose of the demonstration was to address the recent ethnocentric pronouncement by prominent politicians in the country and also prevent such divisive comments in future.
He said the pronouncement of such sensitive debates and statements can deliberately pose a serious threat to national cohesion and security.
Lukman emphasized that the peace of the country should not be comprised on the altar of political gamesmanship by any group or individual.
The NDC Regional Communication Director, Mohammed Abdul Mumin assured the crowd of bringing shame to any political leader or individual who would make ethnocentric statement against any tribe.
He has therefore called on Ghanaians to join hands in flashing out such people in the country for they will bring nothing but disunity among Ghanaians. The NPP Regional Youth Organizer, Rashid Salifu C.O.P on his part said the country needs nothing but peace and unity to bring development to the region.
By;Lilian Walter/zaaradio.com
Categories: