By Adu Koranteng
The Executive Director of The Bono Public Policy Institute BPPI, Paul Apraku Twum Barimah has condemned a reference to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his home townsfolk as ‘Akyem Mafia’ and ‘Sakawa’ people and called on the former president and the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central to apologize to them and the people of Ghana.
Speaking to the media in an interview, Mr Apraku Twum Barimah who is also aspiring NPP Member of Parliament for the Dormaa East constituency described the statement as awful and derogatory at a time that the country is preparing for a general elections. He said such statement could result in violence like it happened in Rwanda and Burundi in 1994, which led to the genocide.
He said it’s unfortunate that this statements are coming from a member of parliament and a former president who should know better.
We at BPPI condemn this statements and call on the former president to apologize unreservedly for propagating the statement. Akeem’s are not Sakawa, Akeem’s are not Mafia. The people of Akyem are Ghanaians like everybody and we must not divide the nation. That would not help in promoting unity and nation building “, he stated .Lets promote peace instead to creating tribal bigotry and ethnic violence, Tribalism has the tendency to endanger the whole nation. It can affect national cohesion and misunderstanding among Ghanaians. Aside these there are negative effect on marriages, sharing of opinion and leadership roles and Ghanaians must do everything to stop whipping up tribal sentiments,” he said.
