Regional News of Tuesday, 25 November 2003

Source: Heritage

Divide And Rule Tactics Nurtures Animosity

A group calling itself Jaman Patriotic Citizens has cautioned politicians to avoid using “divide and rule tactics” in achieving their selfish political motives whilst nurturing animosity among the people.

The group said it would not hesitate to expose any politician who wants to take the district and its people for a ride.

The group stated their position at a press conference held in reaction to pronouncements allegedly made by the Deputy Minister Local Government and Rural Development, Capt. (rtd) Nkrabea Effa Dartey (pictured) on a local radio station in Sunyani a day after the group demonstrated against the Jaman District Chief Executive, Mr. Johnson Ofori Asubonteng.

The spokesperson of the group, Mr. Kwadwo Agyemang a teacher at Jinjin Secondary School, explained that the recent demonstration was aimed at drawing President Kufuor’s attention to some financial malfeasance, political polarization and some illegalities prevailing in Mr. Asubonteng’s administration.

He expressed surprise that Nkrabea Effa Dartey, who is expected to have known better on how conflicts of that nature could be solved, rather went on air to say that the demonstration was organized by some unfaithful members of the New Patriotic Party.

Mr. Agyemang also described as false the impression created by the Deputy Minister that the demonstration was a calculated plan masterminded to disunite the NPP frontline.

The group pledged its support for the government and stressed that the youth were not undermining President Kufuor’s administration but rather helping to expose some “thick-headed” politicians in his government who might cause him to fail.

It noted that Mr. Asubonteng has been using the protest launched against his nomination by a cross section of the NPP supporters particularly the youth of Drobo as a weapon to suppress constructive criticisms against his administration characterized by financial mismanagement , political harassment and polarization.