Regional News of Thursday, 24 September 2009

Source: GNA

Ethnicity is not danger to democracy - Essamuah

Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Mr. Collins Essamuah, a Columnist of the Ghanaian Times, on Thursday stated that ethnocentrism in Ghanaian politics was real but not dangerous to the country's democracy because of the Ghana's unique demography.

He said though Volta and Ashanti Regions were the political "World Bank" of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) they could not guarantee victories for the two political parties since 1992 to 2008.

Mr. Essamuah was speaking at a public forum on Elections and Ethnic Politics in Ghana organised by the management of Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra. The forum forms part of series of lectures on 'Reflections on Security' being organised by the centre to tackle sensitive national issues by politicians and commentators. Mr. Essamuah said political parties which won elections since 1992 were based on the voting pattern in Western, Central and Greater Accra Regions and they in addition, guaranteed the tenure of the government.