The demonstrators
The three divisions of Akyem, namely Abuakwa, Bosome and Kotoku in the Eastern Region, have staged a massive demonstration at Asamankese in the West Akim municipality against former President John Dramani Mahama and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) for an alleged disparaging remarks he made about the ethnic grouping.
As a result, The Concerned Citizens of Akyem Abuakwa, Bosome and Kotoku say they have given the former President, who is the flagbearer of the NDC, to apologize unconditionally to the three Akyem states within 72 hours or they will cause all Akyems to prevent Mr. Mahama and the NDC from campaigning in any of the three Akyem states.
Mr. Mahama, who is staging a comeback, sparked an uproar recently when he described the people of Akyem, the ethnic group of sitting President Akufo-Addo, as ‘Sakawa Boys’ – a term largely used to refer to people who engage in internet fraud, dubious or criminal activities.
Mr. Mahama had shared on his Facebook an unprovoked blistering attack on the persons of President Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia by Isaac Adongo, NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga Central, on the Agyapa Royalties debate.
Isaac Adongo had called those working on the Agyapa deal as ‘Akyem Mafia’ and Mr. Mahama amplified the NDC MP’s vitriolic comment on his Facebook page by adding ‘Akyem Sakawa Boys.’
Members of the group wearing red arm bands and holding placards were led by Osaberima Akogyeaman Apagya Ofori IV, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Army of the Akyem states. They marched through the principal streets of Asamankese to protest against what they called “Mr. Mahama’s penchant for making disparaging remarks about Akyems at any given opportunity.”
After the massive protest march, the group addressed the media through its spokesperson, Archibald Ntiri–Acquah, who said, “The three Akyem states of Abuakwa, Kotoku and Bosome are reacting to the indignity suffered by Okyeman as a result of the continuous unprovoked attacks by Mr. Mahama and his NDC.”
“The latest provocation, as you are aware, is in direct relation to the unsavoury, reckless and incendiary comments made against the chiefs and people of the three Akyem states by NDC MP for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, endorsed, repeated, defended and justified by the former president and leader of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. John Mahama,” Mr. Ntiri–Acquah said on behalf of the group.
“The statement describing Akyems as ‘Sakawa Boys’ has now become a tag to ridicule Akyems as criminals, fraudsters and untrustworthy,” he added.
“The Concerned Citizens of Akyem Abuakwa, Bosome and Kotoku organized this protest upon the request of thousands of our people who have sent appeals reminding us of our duty to respond to the dust and garbage thrown on the face of Okyeman by Mr. Mahama,” he pointed out.
The group said “Mr. Mahama, who as President described Kyebi as the headquarters of ‘galamsey’, in stating his position on the Agyapa Royalties, threw caution to the wind and repeated the ethnocentric description of Akyems as ‘Sakawa’ people. Sakawa is used in local parlance to describe blood rituals, occultism, cyber fraud, greed and violence.”
“The issue of concern is not the original statement purportedly made by Mr. Isaac Adongo. It is rather about the NDC’s campaign style of inciting tribal hatred,” the group said.
They stated, “The NDC should stop seeking to win power by tearing apart the beautiful and harmonious multi-ethnic fabric of our nation,” adding “customs prevent us from repeating the abominable comments by the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NDC, Kwame Zu, against Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyenhene, and Okyeman. The impetuous and insulting comments by Tawia Boateng, the former Eastern Regional Chairman of the NDC, and the disdainful and irresponsible statement made earlier by Stan Dogbe against Akyems must also be condemned.”
They said Mr. Mahama and the NDC in their bid to remain in power tried to sow seeds of confusion between Okyeman and Asanteman, but the discerning people were able to read between the lines and ignored them.
“For all the years that Akufo-Addo has led the NPP or contested to lead the NPP, Ghanaians have witnessed deliberate schemes by the NDC to incite ethnic groups against Akyems. This has happened since 2008 all the time that John Mahama has either been the number two or number one man in the NDC,” they said.
“The conduct of Mr. Mahama is an unprecedented assault against our unity and peace as a nation. His purposeless outburst against Okyeman has nothing to do with differences in opinion on the direction in which our country must move,” adding “it has everything to do with John Mahama’s undignified scramble for power, power to further his narrow aims of acquiring more mansions in Dubai, tax haven, where he has moved some of his family members and educated his sons. Democracy is designed to help improve our lives and not to denigrate and tear us apart.”
“If Akufo-Addo was for Akyems only he would not be pushing 1D1F, One Constituency One Ambulance, $1m per constituency for infrastructure, 1 Village 1 Dam, and free SHS. The roads that are being done across the country do not all lead to Okyeman (sic),” they added.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Asamankese