Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide has taken a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their response to Hon. K.T Hammond's alleged ethnocentric comments.
He was emphatic that the former President and elements in the opposition NDC are engaging in "blatant and dirty tribal politics".
K.T Hammond's Statement
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond has come under a barrage of criticisms after addressing the deployment of Military personnel to the Volta Region.
Hon. K.T Hammond, speaking to a section of the media, explained that the security personnel are in the Region to check the participation of ''non-Ghanaians'' in the new voters' registration exercise which commences on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
He stressed it is a known fact that a lot of people in the Volta Region do not hail from Ghana but due to the close relationship between residents in the Region and Togolese citizens, there could be an influx of unqualified people partaking in the exercise, hence defeating the purpose of the new voters' register.
“They [Togolese] walk in [Volta Region] and come out normally but they are not Ghanaians. When they walk in there they can do whatever they do so I guess that is the reason for that,” he said.
“The military is at the Aflao border to make sure you vote if you are a Ghanaian and if you have the constitutional right to vote. That’s all there is. They are not electoral officers, but they are peacekeeping forces. They are keeping the peace. They [Togolese] walk into the [Volta Region] and come out normally but they are not Ghanaians. When they walk in there, they can do whatever they do so I guess that is the reason for that'', he added.
NDC Minority On Military Deployment To Volta Region
Minority Spokesperson on Defence and Interior, James Agalga, addressing the press in Parliament, accused the government of spearheading the Military deployment in the Volta Region.
He believed it is an attempt to intimidate the residents and prevent them from participating in the registration exercise.
''There is a certain scheme which is designed by the government to intimidate our teeming supporters from coming out in their numbers to register and have their names on the new voter register.''
Ex-Prez Mahama Condemns Prez Akufo-Addo
Also addressing K.T Hammond's statements, former President John Dramani Mahama held that sending troops to the Volta Region is a declaration of war on the residents.
He rebuked President Nana Akufo-Addo for sanctioning the Military presence in the Region.
''I have sufficient reason to believe that there is merit in the concerns raised by the residents of these Regions. This represents another unprecedented low in the shameless abuse of state power to attack the very citizens whose safety and security the Akufo-Addo government should be protecting. It is becoming evident by the day, that the Akufo-Addo government perceives political power as an end in itself hence the resort to such crude and high-handed measures to usurp the mandate of the people.
''To send troops into regions in times of peace for the sole purpose of preventing them from registration amounts to declaring war on them. Any President sanctioning this sort of activity stands in breach of his oath to the people of Ghana. Any President doing this, commits a grave sin against the very people he swore to protect. No one would have imagined that a Ghanaian government would be so obsessed with hanging on to power as to subject its own citizens to such mistreatment and execute an ethno-tribal agenda of this magnitude against them'', a statement released by his office read.
Vote Against The NDC
But the Deputy Information Minister, speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo", strongly holds the view that the opposition party is capitalizing on K.T Hammond's statements merely to pitch Akans against the people of Volta Region.
He, however, was optimistic that their "useless and empty politics" will not succeed.
''Vote against any party that will engage in tribal politics...The NDC should move away from this useless and empty politics of one tribe against another.''
Mr. Enam Hadzide further asked Voltarians not to fall for Mr. Mahama's deception.
''If Mr. Mahama claims he likes the Volta Region because they have admitted that we (the Voltarians) are the ones who vote for them, I plead with him to select his Running Mate from the Volta Region for us to know if he indeed likes us'', he stated.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Another ***barred word*** visa fraudster in we have the men family.
The man said Togolese can cross the border and come in and out of Ghana to do anything but they are not Ghanaians and you twisted it that he said Voltarians are not Ghanaians. You are wicked. He spoke English and we all understood. Go away with your tribal politics
Kofi the ndc has opened his hands to all Ghanaians really? If it is so why do you even comment on this? Do you remember the infamous mahama speach to the northern people to vote for him because he comes from the north ? How many Akans were in the security forces when ndc was in power when Akans constitute over 50% of the population with about 5 regions being Akans? How many Gas were ministers in the ndc government and how many Ewes hold the ndc national Executive office? and you call that all inclusive? You don't know what you talking about ! Ndc brought tribalism and division in Ghana ! Ghana has been peaceful before ndc came in ! The Gas and the Akwapims and Fantis were like one people, the Ashantis and the northerners were brothers but what do we see to day because of ndc ? division and disunity ! Nobody care who was the head of state we only cared about we were Ghanaians ! Ndc is not good for Ghana discard it into the dust bin ! Dr Limann didn't kill before becoming president Ghanaians elected him on his first election but now somebody had to kill somebody for his position because of hate ! Stop that for we know who ndc are they've never loved Ghana and Ghanaians !
I bet to differ on this topic. It is not the NDC which is at fault and by this I'm not saying the NDC is doing the right thing by doing propaganda with tribal politics. What I am saying is the too known attitude of our so call MPs, Experts, and opinion leader in Ghana. Why comment when you don't have facts about the topic? KT Hammond is not the minister for national security of home affairs. He has no knowledge about the reason for the deployment so it was silly on his part to comment when he didn't know what the deployment is about or the extent of the deployment. The too know attitude by Ghanaians must stop, it helps no body
NDC and their dirty politics,wat at all is wrong wqith wat K.T Hammond said?
NDC has open his hand to all Ghanaians and has allow all Ghanaians to hold different positions in it fold can the same be said of NPP you have lost your root calling yourself voltarian can you speak ewe
@Koby the deputy minister was spot on. Did OT Hammond say anything against the Voltarians? Hypocrisy is killing Ghanaians!!!!.
Another tarbgorkukutor, k3s3 targobortor!!! All these ones are honourables............