The Asante Youth Association (AYA) has condemned the surge in persecution of iconic businessmen from the Ashanti region by the Akufo-Addo government.

The Association contends there is series of onslaughts on enterprises belonging to Asantes by the government insisting it shall fiercely fight it and will not allow the seeming anti-Ashanti agenda to fester.

Addressing a Press conference on Monday, President of the Association, Nana Yaw Breyan said powerful individual businessmen from the Asante soil like Nana Oduro, Founder of First Allied Bank, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, the founder of UniBank Ghana Plc, and Mr Ansonamoah, the largest shareholdings of UT bank have already had their share of the latest cruelty as the Akufo-Addo regime ramps up persecution of Asante businessmen.

“As if the destructive policies of the government of today is not enough,a new campaign to destroy one of the business moguls of our land has begun and notably among them are; Nana Oduro Founder of First Allied Bank, Dr Kwabena Dufuor the founder of UniBank Ghana Plc, Mr Ansonamoah the largest shareholdings of UT bank.

“Ladies and gentlemen, with the help of some rented media to prosecute his agenda, the New Statement Newspaper published a screaming headline on its front-page seeking to criminalise, disparage and destroy one of the men targeted,” he disclosed.

“This man targeted to destroy after collapsing his bank and other businesses, is the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and former Finance Minister, our own Dr Kwabena Duffuor, one of the few Asante stars that all of us as young ASANTES look up to and aspire to become as great as he is.

“An evidence to support our claim is the advice offered by the government by its own AG...” the statement noted.

However, the Asante Youth Association has served notice to the NPP government reminding it that the road to the Jubilee House passes through Asante(Ashanti Region) as political authorities require the full support from the (Asante)Ashanti Region before they can get political power.

“Throughout our rich history, Asantes have never settled for less, and we will not allow this government or any future government to treat our traditional authorities and business icons with disdain, with contempt and trample upon them,” the group warned.

Below is the full Statement

AYA BARES TEETH, CALLS FOR A HALT TO POLITICAL PERSECUTION OF ASANTES AND ATTEMPT TO DESTROY ASANTE BUSINESSMEN

SALUTATION

Nananom, invited guests, media team, ladies and gentlemen. This press conference is a matter of fact very urgent and necessary within the times of Asante history. We would like to especially thank the media for honouring our invitation always. You have indeed been a partner for the good cause of Asanteman…Ayekoo!.

Events unfolding in this country has given us a cause to worry as to the deliberate agenda of the government of the day to pursue courses which are clearly targeted at disrespecting the authority of our Asante Kingdom, led by our overlord, his council of chiefs and also destroying trailblazing Ashanti businessmen of national repute.

BACKGROUND

The commanding heights attained by our Asante Kingdom, cannot be overemphasized, hence the respect and reverence that every government, here and abroad, give to our Asante Overlord (Otumfuo), his chiefs and we Asantes in general. However, it has come to light that the government of the day has assumed a rather strange attitude that seeks to belittle our Asante Traditional Authorities, first by attacking the representation of our chiefs in the local government assemblies.

As the Bantamahene adequately dealt with it at the inauguration of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) we would not bore you with many details.

Ladies and gentlemen, we wish to serve notice to the government of the day that the road to the Jubilee House resides with Asante(Ashanti Region) and especially the right to political authority requires the fullest of support from the (Asante)Ashanti Region.

Throughout our rich history, Asantes have never settled for less, and we will not allow this government or any future government to treat our traditional authorities and business icons with disdain, with contempt and trample upon them.

As far as we the leadership of the Asante Youth Association are concerned, we will not allow this anti-Ashanti agenda to fester. We will crush it. And we shall embark on a series of education and forum to ensure that the freedom is given to Asante(Ashanti) businessmen to operate their enterprises and the respect that all governments give to Manhyia and our chiefs, is returned with full honours.

THE MAIN AGENDA FOR TODAY

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we need not remind you all of the great Asante businessmen who lost their factories businesses, capital and companies under painful circumstances in the past, especially under military regimes. As media men, your history tells you of how many of such great Asantes died and how the few who were able to survive by the skin of their teeth, contributed immensely towards the growth of Asanteman.

It was therefore not a wonder that our fathers and mothers decided to embrace the UP Tradition (NPP) and owned it when multi-party democracy was introduced, believing in the ideals of the party of free enterprise, as enshrined in the constitution of the party as believers in PROPERTY OWNING DEMOCRACY.

Invited media men and women, this ideology of the NPP became manifest when His Excellency, the great John Agyekum Kufuor, in the campaign towards the year 2000 presidential election, declared that the NPP would create a GOLDEN AGE OF BUSINESS in Ghana.

Ladies and gentlemen,

how many of you remember MAKING THE PRIVATE SECTOR THE ENGINE OF GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY?

It was one of the common lexicons that was introduced by the Peerless President Kufuor and his government.

Ladies and gentlemen, can you please tell us where that mantra has vanished to? Kufuor’s NPP is back in power for 3 years but that NPP character and language for private sector participation is missing.

As if the destructive policies of the government of today is not enough, a new campaign to destroy one of the business moguls of our land has begun and notably among them are; Nana Oduro Founder of First Allied Bank, Dr Kwabena Dufuor the founder of UniBank Ghana Plc, Mr Ansonamoah the largest shareholdings of UT bank…..

Ladies and gentlemen, with the help of some rented media to prosecute his agenda, the New Statement Newspaper published a screaming headline on its front-page seeking to criminalise, disparage and destroy one of the men targeted.

This man targeted to destroy after collapsing his bank and other businesses, is the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and former Finance Minister, our own Dr Kwabena Duffuor, one of the few Asante stars that all of us as young ASANTES look up to and aspire to become as great as he is.

Evidence to support our claim is the advice offered by the government it own AG…” Secondly, it is beyond dispute that the official administration uniBank was placed under, terminated with the revocation of the license of the bank and appointment of a receiver for “selected assets and liabilities”. It seems that these actions cannot be supported in terms of section 122(2) of act 93O…it goes on and on. we believe as media professionals you have these documents.

Ladies and gentleman, the said newspaper wrote that DUFFOUR FATHER, SON AND ASIAMAH WANTED BY THE POLICE meanwhile the story did not mention the name of anyone as the source within the Ghana Police Service that told the newspaper that Dr Duffuor and his son have been declared wanted. We(AYA)ask how can a man in court, wait to make a case against the government suddenly be reported as on the run?

This is exactly what has happened in today’s Ghana.
The years were when governments used National Security, the Police CID and even the military to target Asante's businessmen is back. Like a hungry lion on the prowl, seeking to make a catch, the government is seeking to destroy one of the most successful ASANTES in our contemporary times.

WHAT IS THE CASE THE THE GOVERNMENT TODAY HAS AGAINST ASANTE?

THANK YOU.

LONG LIVE ASANTE
LONG LIVE SIKA DWA
LONG LIVE AYA

SIGNED,

NANA YAW BREYAN
PRESIDENT, AYA
(0544967165)

TWENEBOA KODUA
SECRETARY, AYA

MR JOSEPH OPPONG BOADI
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, AYA
(0246159303)