IT WAS around 2pm last Saturday when I first saw the video of the ethnic diatribe from Hopeson Yaovi Adorye. In his warped analysis, Northern politicians in the Great Elephant fraternity were only fit for the running mate slot. He was thus cautioning those clamouring for Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia to contest the flagbearership to take note.
After being chastised by many of his well-wishers for the reprehensible commentary, he later released a statement to clarify his comment. Ironically, the press statement ended up being worse as he extended his bigotry to the religious front. To put it mildly, his apology was an apology of an apology.
After bussing people from other regions to embark on a health walk in Kumasi to show the support Alan Kyerematen has in the region, Hopeson’s faux-pax was an anti-climax to the programme.
Instead of talking about Alan’s strengths and what he brings to the table, he chose to engage in political tomfoolery.
His disrespect for Northerners feeds into the narrative that the Elephant fraternity only recognises people from the Akan tribe. Hopeson has now given our opponents a very powerful ammunition for the 2024 campaign.
Who will doubt Sammy Gyamfi and his ilk when they come out strongly to sing the “Akan party” chorus? Trust me when I say the propagandist will not let such an opportunity go to waste.
We are all proud to be members of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition. It is a great tradition with great history and record in the country’s governance. But it is high time we stopped emphasising on the tripartite tribal tripod in respect of who leads the party into an election. It is as outmoded as it is disrespectful to party members who have no link to the three founders of the tradition.
What message are we sending to active party members of other tribes if the claim to the party’s flagbearship position is limited to only the descendants of Danquah, Busia and Dombo? Are we telling them they can never dream of ever leading the party, irrespective of their contributions?
Ours is a party with membership across the length and breadth of the country. It is a party with people from all tribes, cultures and religions. Our utterances should therefore be inclusive, not divisive.
In any case, who told Hopeson and those who think like him that the country’s jobless youth care about Danquah, Busia or Dombo? The youth do not care about political sentimentalism. All the youth care about is quality education, good jobs and affordable accommodation.
I don’t blame Hopeson for his recklessness. His belly is very full so he can afford to be careless and reckless. Some of us have followed this party since 1992 and have not benefitted from it. The likes of Hopeson should not spoil our chance of being part of a future Elephant governments by making ‘Breaking the 8’ an impossibility.
Come to think of it, was he not the bloke who was made to lead BNI’s intelligence operations at the Kotoka International Airport? I’m told his only feat was introducing the infamous Serwaa Broni to President Nana Dee. Ah Osono, do we really have the men?
I’m sure the party’s new leadership has taken note of the furore the so-called health walk had generated. While we await the party’s action on the matter, let all party folks be reminded that the fowl that foolishly gets drunk will surely lose her chicks to the lurking hawk.
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!