Ethnocentrism: Akufo-Addo Sparks Anger Among Northern Youth

Many Ghanaians from Northern Ghana have expressed offence at how President Akufo-Addo recently referred to persons from that part of the country when he tried to call out his predecessor, Ex-President Mahama for labelling him and his some persons around him as “Akyem  Sakawa Boys”.

The offended persons from Northern Ghana claim the President’s comments are negative and smack of ethnocentrism. They are therefore demanding an explanation or an apology from him.

In a meeting with the Catholic Bishops Conference last Friday, the President refereed to a piece by Member of Parliament for Bolga Central, Isaac Adongo, which Ex-President Mahama shared on his facebook page. In the said piece, President Akufo-Addo and his team were referred to as “Akyem Sakawa Boys’.  It is this that made the President angry and in anger made comments about persons from Northern Ghana which they consider ethnocentric, provocative and offensive.

The Concerned Northern Youth (CNY), in a press statement released on Sunday by co-signed by the group’s President Mohammed Nuhu and Secretary/Spokesperson, Ayamba Ali Dauda, the group said President Akufo-Addo, in saying “If I was to get up to make a comment about Northerners or Gonjas, you can imagine the uproar that will be in this country,” showed he had something negative about Northerners which when he says, will lead to an uproar. They challenged him to come out public with whatever he has against Northerners or render an unqualified apology to them.

Below is the full press statement released by the CNY:

Ladies and gentlemen of the Media,

We have become aware of dangerous ethnocentric comments made by President Akufo-Addo during a meeting with the Catholic Bishop’s Conference last Friday at the Jubilee House. For the avoidance of doubt, we quote the comment below for reference:

“If I was to get up to make a comment about Northerners or Gonjas, you can imagine the uproar that will be in this country.”

As much as we acknowledge the context in which the President tried to situate his comment, we suspect his generalization to encompass all Northerners has underpinning sentiments. It is in this respect we disagree with the President and call on him to explain his bitterness against Northerners or Gonjas.

We are at pains to understand why ‘our father’ will let out such thoughts as if he is squabbling with us. We want to know what President Akufo-Addo has against Northerners that if he says it, would cause an uproar. We just want to know whatever negative it is, we assure the public that we will not call for an uproar. One lesson we learned from a past President, our own Prof. Atta Mills, is that when one is elected President, he becomes a father for all; not for a few or his tribe alone. It is perhaps on this notion that the Presidential oath that the President swore upon taking office entails a pledge to dedicate himself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons. With the visible anger of the President towards Northerners, it is not very likely he will uphold this pledge.

Again we are wondering if it is the same President who few days ago admonished the entire populace to shun politicians who promote tribal politics. There are many other tribes in Ghana but the choice of the Northerners which comprise many tribes is intriguing. We feel it is a subtle attack on the Northern part of the country by a southern president who feels aligned to the south more than the North. This is a clear division of the unitary state entrusted in the hands of the President.  This attitude lends credence to the perception of tribal politics by the very person who admonishes against it. It is nothing but hypocrisy at best.

We therefore patiently await the President’s insinuations against Northerners failure of which we demand an unqualified apology from him to all Ghanaian Northerners. Democracy does not mean only a few are liked and recognized in plural societies!

Thank you.

 

Signed

Mohammed Nuhu

President

 

 

Ayamba Ali Dauda

Secretary/Spokesperson

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