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Ghana’s former President, Jerry John Rawlings, has slammed Hon Dzifa Attivor for appealing to Voltarians to carry on with the mantra of voting for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) because the party's founder is from the region.

The former Transport Minister, during the launch of a group called 'Ketu South For Fifi And Mahama' at Wodoaba in the Ketu South district of the Volta region, told indigenes that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with reference from its 2001 to 2008 record of governance, shows how the party would associate itself with tribalism on prosecuting only Ewes if it wins the General Elections come November 7.

She is reported to have tagged the NPP flagbearer as a tribalistic politician saying an Akufo-Addo government will embark on a jailing spree of Ewes just as former President John Kufuor did during his tenure, citing the imprisonment of former government officials Victor Selormey and Dan Abodapki to buttress her point.

The former Minister explained that all that stands between her and prison time, is the Volta regional vote.

“I want to remind you that it is your vote that will decide if Fifi Kwetey and I will be prosecuted and put behind bars or not,” she rallied the Voltarians.
 
Before making such unfortunate statements let’s remove the logs in our own eyes
But former President Rawlings, in a strongly worded statement issued Wednesday, cautioned it is imperative "before making such unfortunate statements," one removes "the log in our own eyes".

Describing the former minister's comments as “distasteful”, Mr Rawlings stressed that he does not ascribe “to the politics of ethnic bias”.

“While I may not be a fan of the NPP, I know their presidential candidate is not tribalistic or ethnocentric. Whatever Nana Addo’s shortcomings, tribalism is not one of them”, he added.


Read Mr Rawlings' full statement below

 

STATEMENT ON ETHNOCENTRIC COMMENTS BY DZIFA ATTIVOR

My attention has been drawn to a statement made by a former Minister for Transport, Dzifa Attivor at a political event at Wodoaba in the Volta Region.

I find it distasteful that aside making ethnocentric references accusing the NPP Presidential candidate of being tribalistic, she also insinuated that because I was the Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the electorate in the Volta Region should vote for the party on that basis.

Before making such unfortunate statements let’s remove the logs in our own eyes.

I do not subscribe to the politics of ethnic bias and never have. While I may not be a fan of the NPP, I know their presidential candidate is not tribalistic or ethnocentric. Whatever Nana Addo’s shortcomings, tribalism is not one of them. Some known and respected Voltarians like Nutifafa Kuenyehia should be able to testify to his political nature.

As we draw closer to the next Presidential and Parliamentary elections we all as Ghanaians expect ALL PARTIES involved in the process to base their arguments and campaign rhetoric on the truth and desist from emotional and non-factual statements, especially where my name has to be mentioned.

I implore the electorate not to allow immature behaviour and pronouncements to cloud their judgement.

Thank you.