Ethnic politics is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of politics. It is the notion of ascribing moral, social or political significance to a man’s genetic lineage. Ethnic politics claims that the content of a man’s mind is inherited; that a man’s convictions, values and character are determined before he is born.

In ethnic politics, men are indoctrinated with notion that the individual possesses no rights, that supremacy, moral authority and unlimited power belong to the group, and that a man has no significance outside his group.

In Ghana ethnic politics has become a canker and I sometimes wonder if it will end. Political parties have exploited ethnicity to the extent that it is becoming entrenched in our politics. The two most popular parties in Ghana the NDC and NPP are wearing the ethnic tag with honour. Â People deliberately brand the two parties as belonging to particular ethnic groups just to achieve their own individual political agenda. The perception that the two main parties derive their support from certain ethnic groups have come to stay with us and it will take a long time to be stopped.

It is in the light of this many people are asking questions as to the ethnic background the next NPP Chairman should come from.

As a matter of fact the NPP has no choice on the issue of choosing a non-Akan as National Chairman. The party must be strategic and must plan well to stop perceptions that it is Akan dominated. The party must not to be seen solely as an Akan party although there is a good side to this perception. The selection of an Akan Chairman will send a signal that the party is happiest with Akans taking all leading positions.

Presently most of the key positions in NPP are held by Akans; National Chairman, General Secretary, Minority Leader of Parliament, Communications Director and so on. Clearly this does the Party no good. The NPP has failed to encourage and promote non-Akan members to speak for the Party and to occupy certain key positions.

The party need to do a lot of strategic planning to prevent the situation in which some other parties will continue to brand it pro-Akan. I was elated when Courage Quashigah declared an intention to contest the flagbearership of NPP. He would have helped defuse the Akan tag on NPP. With his death, the flag bearership will definitely go to an Akan since it is only Akans that are presently testing the waters.

The National Chairmanship of NPP must therefore be selected from Greater Accra, Volta, or the three Northern Regions to give the party the ethnic and geographical balance it needs.

I have heard some people argue that ethnic considerations should give way to the politics of merit because that is the only way we can get men and women of proven merit and quality to fill positions that will strengthen the NPP and eventually move Ghana forward. Others have said if we always focus on how to play the tribal card to win elections we may find a lot of square pegs in round holes both within the parties and the national political paradigms. This is true, but is the NDC not outwitting the NPP by creating a seemingly perfect ethnic and geographical balance for their National Executive positions. Â

 If the NPP wants to succeed and make itself attractive, it has to broaden its base beyond its core Akan voters. The party must make conscious efforts that will make it appealing to non-Akans. The NPP must expand its base beyond the Akan areas.  The party (NPP) has to make itself appealing to Ewes, Northerners, Gas, Nzemas, Krobos and all. Rightly or wrongly, the party was perceived as an Akan party and I have heard some people jokingly referred to the NPP as Asante-Akyem party, which doesn't help its image.

There are two Akans in the current race for National Chairman; Jake Obetsebi- Lamptey and Sammy Crabbe and with my theory the race should definitely be between the two. However Jake is associated with winning and Sammy Crabbe associated with losing. As three times Greater Accra Regional Chairman Jake inherited a situation of 9 seats and 46% votes. He led the party to become both the majority party in Greater Accra with 52% of votes for J.A. Kufour and 16 seats in Parliament. As two times National Campaign Manager for NPP he used this strategy to ensure the NPP was victorious in 2000 and and 2004. When Jake handed over to

On the other hand Sammy Crabbe as Greater Accra Regional Chairman, led the party to reduce its seats in Parliament from 16 to 9. Â Moreover Jake's track record of being in the NPP tradition for many years, being in the trenches, and serving in various capacities, has placed him in a strategic position to be entrusted with the mandate to become the next National Chairman of the party. He is a well known campaign strategist and master planner.

He deserves the position of NPP National Chairman.Â

By Mohammed Ussif Gbolo.

ahmedussifgbolo@yahoo.com