Ethnocentric Tags: Seeds Of Discord

The recent National Democratic Congress (NDC) electoral event was significant for varied reasons. Our attention, as have other compatriots with a keen interest in local political developments, rivets on the remarks which have gone virile following the internal polls. Sadly these have emanated from persons with a passion for ethnocentric politics and the reason is not farfetched: the below-belt approach to attracting votes has been their political hallmark over the years. But like all negative things, they have a limited lifespan as was manifested by the outcome of the election.

Anita Desoso, a firebrand party activist with a passion for inflammatory remarks was the first to attract attention of the media when she spewed a rather inappropriate outburst. For her and others of her ilk, the opposition party has been snatched from Voltarians, the outcome of the Trade Fair site electoral exercise being the premise for her unwholesome conclusion.

The inappropriate tag of one party being Akan- based and the other Voltarian has been one of the most political foul injuries to be inflicted on the political frame of the country. Paradoxically, political leaders who should have worked against the nurturing of the vile have rather cashed in on it by spreading it especially in their so-called strongholds to their advantage, not so, however, to the country’s interest.

The chickens have come home to roost and those who festooned the Akan tag around the neck of the NPP should bow their heads in shame as they review the outcome of their dastardly political mischief. The idea was to build a support base out of a particular region and brainwash persons in this part of the country to see themselves as being distinct and to toe a particular political lineage come what may.

We condemn in no uncertain terms those who were behind this intrigue and ask that they consider the bigger picture which is Ghana; her cohesion superseding the parochial objectives of these selfish persons.

If we may ask such politically irresponsible personalities: what has been the result of their political enterprise? Certainly negative and this is evidenced by their loud grumbling over the outcome of the polls.

When the first President of the Republic proscribed political groupings with ethnocentric or faith inclinations, it was for a genuine cause.

Such inclinations do not make for national cohesion. Really it does not do for political civility to encourage people to vote on tribal or faith basis. Doing so is evidence of disregard for national cohesion; a critical ingredient for development.

Now that in the estimation of the bad players on the political terrain, two parties have become ‘Akan-based’ what would be their next line of action?

Would they rather the outcomes of the NDC election are quashed because persons from a particular region or even ethnic grouping did not get executive positions?

Come on folks such political primitive thoughts should be confined to the history books for references only.