Suhum (E/R), July 03, GNA- The claim by an unemployed Rastafarian, Edward Tetteh Bamfo, that they are suffering unwarranted discrimination in the country took the centre-stage at an otherwise low-key people's assembly held at Suhum in the Eastern Region on Wednesday.

Bamfo, who was taking his turn at the assembly, a platform that enable ordinary citizens to exchange ideas with government officials, insisted that although he has the requisite qualifications to be in government employment, he remains jobless because of his belief A Rastafarian is an advocate of a creed that originated in Jamaica and its adherents worship former Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, as God.

"But in Ghana, many people see them as rascals who are not to be tolerated," he said.

"A more insidious label", Bamfo said, was the perception that all Rastafarians are drug addicts, thus making life even more unbearable for them, even though they had gone through the educational mill as most Ghanaians and are qualified for placements in state agencies. Brandishing a well-laminated certificate, Bamfo said despite all efforts to get a job for the past eight years, he has remained in the house, though in some instances, he seems to be more educated than those who are offered positions.

He rationalizes the abuse of marijuana by some of his affiliates as due to ennui they suffer because of rampant discrimination, which he said, stifles their creativity and ability to economic determination. Responding, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister, said there was no state policy to discriminate against Rastafarian as concluded by Bamfo.

He said the government, as a liberal democratic entity, would not sponsor any laws that sanctions discrimination against any group of persons based on their calling or religion, as in the case of the Rastafarians.

He, however, was of the view that the social discrimination that the Rastafarians might suffer could be attributed to "the clash of culture, the result of a dominant culture not assimilating a contending culture".

In that connection, Mr Affram Asiedu urged Rastafarians to form an association to articulate their concerns so as to make their religion more amenable to the generality of the society. Some other concerns that were tabled at the forum was the need for government to pay owners for lands it has acquired for development projects in the area, which the District Chief Executive, Mr Michael Kofi Mensah, promised to work on.

The Regional Minister also asked Mr Mensah, to contact his office, so that they can jointly offer support to the Anum Apapam Youth Association, who are building an out- patient's department outlet at their town's health centre.