News:
February 11, 2011
The Member of Parliament for Okere, Dan Botwe, has predicted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will bag 20% of electoral votes in the Volta Region, in the up-coming 2012 general elections.
According to him, the NPP has over the years progressively improved its percentage of votes in the Volta Region which has not been favorable to the NPP, adding that there is every indication that the NPP will win the next elections.
He made the prediction on Peace FM’s Kokrooko show on Friday, February 11th 2011, when he was responding to claims by the NDC that Nana Akufo Addo’s recent comments while addressing party faithfuls in Koforidua re-enforces the belief that the NPP is a tribalistic political party.
Nana Akufo Addo’s in his address alleged that “They (NDC) have intentions to intimidate us in 2012 because they believe that we the Akans are soft and cowards”.
Hon. Dan Botwe who refuted the assertion argued that no political party could be as tribalistic as the NDC.
Citing a book authored by the current Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Kofi Awoonor , titled “The Ghanaian Revolution”, Dan Botwe describes how on page 57 of his book, Prof Awoonor seeks to justify why, in his calculation, ‘Ewes in the Armed Forces have achieved the reputation of being the notorious coup makers and plotters against successive governments.’
He ascribed this, in part, to Ewes seeing ‘themselves in opposition to all governments in Ghana, which inevitably become Akan (Ashanti) dominated.’
He continues, ‘The contest for power is reduced in simple terms to a fierce contest between the Akan (Ashanti) and the Ewes.’
Hon, Dan Botwe wondered, “what amounts to preaching tribalism than what is contained in Professor Awoonor’s book, and the President has appointed such a preacher of tribalism as the Chairman of the Council of State”, he asked?
He noted, it was important that such tribalistic tendencies are discouraged to ensure Ghana moves ahead as a developed country in unity.
Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh