Ghanaian reggae and dancehall artiste, Samini has advised the youth to say no to party militias because even children of politicians never risk their lives for their parents by joining militia groups or demonstrations.
Samini’s counsel comes in the wake of the bloody Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on Thursday, 31 January 2019 in which national security operatives opened fire on some members of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and wounded 16 of them.
The incident has led to a call by the president, for the disbandment of all party militias to safeguard the security of the country.
Speaking to Benjamin Akakpo on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Thursday, 14 March 2019, Samini described as “sad” the idea that some youth are willing to die for a politician for as little as GHS50.
Samini said: “The youth must understand that this politician that you’re putting down your life for, have their own little family who will not come out and do a demonstration. The president’s daughters will not come out and demonstrate and wear party colours for their dad but you will see thousands of hungry Ghanaians demonstrating.
“When their [children of politicians] dad becomes president, they go to Harvard [University], their children will go to Harvard, [too], their immediate families will get the benefit and they will never be on the street to demonstrate.
“So, why are you the ordinary Ghanaian youth engaging in commotion in favour of a [politician] so that he and his family will be good but when it’s death time, you’re the one going to die just for GHS50. That is so sad.”
Samini continued: “You agree to wear jeans and boots and t-shirt and promise a man that you’ll slap him once that GHS50 is available. Say no to belonging to these little sects that have been programmed to cause commotion and distract regular flow of day-to-day activities … On Election Day, if you’re part of a youth group charged to go and disrupt the process, shame on you, ‘you bi yawa guy’”.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged both the New Patriotic Party and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), the two guilty culprits, to meet and disband their militias failure of which he will do so himself through legislation.