Some facts have already been established about the comments made by Yaw Osafo-Marfo, a former Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Some of the facts include the establishment that the UP/PFP/NPP is a tribal party. Other facts are that Yaw Osafo-Marfo is a dishonest man and also that he should not think Ghanaians are fools. These are established facts.
Even though these facts have been confirmed, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin Central MP for the NPP and the NPP do not see anything wrong with that. Hon. Ken. Agyapong has said in public that Mr. Osafo-Marfo did not insult anybody and that he has no problem if the NDC claims the Volta Region as its stronghold and if the NPP also claims the Ashanti Region as its stronghold. Hon. Agyapong also said that the NPP is a foolish party and he doesn’t know why he still belongs to that party. He owes them no apology and finally, he said emphatically that because of the foolishness of the NPP, they will stay in opposition forever. (These are the words of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, not mine)
All what Kennedy Agyapong said are true and those that have not happened will surely happen. What Hon. Ken. did not know is that Yaw Osafo-Marfo did not talk about party’s strongholds. What Osafo-Marfo said was that 86.5% of resources in Ghana come from five regions: Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern, Western and Central. This is where 86% of the resources of Ghana come from…. And the oil was discovered in the West. It will change the formula to about 90%. We cannot ignore these five regions and we should not. Osafo-Marfo continued to say “we have all these resources, but you have no say in the management of your resources and that is what is happening. Your development depends on the one who has no resources” Does Osafo-Marfo know there are Regional Ministers in Ghana?
These comments by Yaw Osafo-Marfo has got nothing to do with a party’s stronghold. It has all to do with, if you are not from any of the regions he mentioned above, you have no business being the manager of those resources. In other words, any President/Manager who is elected but does not come from any of those regions, (Akan/Akyem Regions) was wrongly elected and so the UP/PFP/NPP people should not give him/her any peace of mind to manage. The fact here is that since 1992, any person who has been the President from any other region, was a foreigner to Ghanaian resources. This is why in the 1992 elections, the NPP’s campaign slogan was “ye gye ye man” meaning we want our country back. What that meant was that the rightful owners of Ghanaian resources want their country and resources back. Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, the MP and the NPP do not see anything wrong with these comments?
Other comments Yaw Osafo-Marfo made were “You can’t say this openly” but added that they are at liberty to talk about it amongst Asantes. He continued, “We should protect ourselves, we should protect our income. No one who is the source of income, the source of revenue, the source of resources allows another person without those resources the chance to rule over them. Was Osafo-Marfo calling for war?
My questions to Yaw Osafo-Marfo and the NPP are that what is wrong with them talking openly about Ghana’s resources and why does Osafo-Marfo think he is comfortable discussing that only amongst Akans? Again, this has got nothing to do with strongholds. It has all to do with politics of tribes, division and confusion. If Osafo-Marfo thinks the resources of Ghana are for all Ghanainas, why is he scared to talk about it in public and among Ghanaians? If Osafo-Marfo thinks any citizen of Ghana can become President, why does he talk about the Manager of our resources coming for only the five regions? What about the people from other parts of the country? They will be made second in command in the NPP.
Yaw Osafo-Marfo finished with a concluding statement, “it’s never done anywhere in the world. In the world over, it is the group with the most resources that rules and not the other way around” Does Osafo-Marfo have any examples to support this satanic statement he made? Does Osafo-Marfo not know that those countries where their Presidents come from rich resource areas have wars and battles to deal with? So we see why Osafo-Marfo could not make such suggestions in public but could only do so to a selected few? These selected few are in the tribal party, and will remain a tribal party till thy kingdom come.
Fellow Ghanaians, the NPP know that they can only win general elections in Ghana if they are branded as a tribal party and that is why they are doing everything possible to let Ghanaians know that. They also win general elections if there is division and confusion amongst various tribes in the country. This is why they resort to comments that are intended to divide the people of Ghana. On the other hand, NPP could never win any general elections in Ghana if there is peace in the country. This is why they have resorted to unnecessary and meaningless demonstrations to disturb the peace Ghana is enjoying right now.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the NPP is a party of “mate meho” meaning a separatist party. They don’t want peace and unity. Whenever there is peace in the country, the NPP will find every means possible to create confusion and disturbances, even if they have to spread dead bodies in the streets of the country. The fact is when there is peace in the country, the NPP members pick up fight amongst themselves. They hate to live amongst Ghanaians in peace and harmony. They think they are the party of the five regions and so should be given the birth right to manage our resources. They think anyone not from the Ashanti or Akyem, who is President of Ghana is wrong and so they will make the running of the country very uncomfortable for that person. They think the country Ghana belongs to them. In this 21st century, if the NPP will continue to be swimming in tribal politics, they can go ahead, but they should Ghana alone. Ghana is moving forward with President John Dramani Mahama as our Manager. These are the other facts about Yaw Osafo-Marfo’s comments and these facts are supported by facts.
Meanwhile, Friends of John Dramani Mahama (USA Chapter) is still accepting applications for membership. Registration is free for now. If you have not registered, please call the number below or send an email and someone will welcome you warmly. Membership is open to all Ghanaians.
Lawrence Appiah-Osei (Protocol)
Chairman
Friends of John Dramani Mahama (USA Chapter)
Appiah65@Hotmail.com
703-400-1621