Former Trade Minister Dr Ekow Spio-Gabrah has revived an old attack against the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), which he labelled as a tribal party.
He said while the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) accommodates non-Akans, the same could not be said about it arch political rival, the NPP.
Speaking after an NDC press conference to announce its manual registration exercise, Dr Spio-Gabrah said the NPP is purely a tribal entity.
“The [NDC] is a party that has had Presidents from the Volta, Central and Northern Regions [but] this is not the case in the NPP,” he told Joy News’ Joseph Ackah-Blay.
The two parties have a history of trading tribal claims in their attempt to win votes, a ploy that peaked in the lead up to the 2016 general elections.
Spio-Gabrah's comments is a recycled version of the then President John Mahama's call to voters in the three regions of the North to vote for the NDC because it is the only party that allows Northerners to rise to the height of political power.
John Mahama and the NDC General Secretary Asiedu Nketia have all suggested the NPP would reject Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia if he attempts to contest for the presidential candidate of his party because he hails from the North.
Former Finance minister Osafo Maafo was also accused of making ethnocentric comments in a recorded video in which he is said to have argued that only persons from resource-rich regions should become president.
The suggestion was that resource-rich regions are largely Akan dominated areas where NPP has its strongholds. But the leading NPP figure maintained the February 2015 recording was doctored.
Mr Spio-Gabrah tipped to contest for the NDC flagbearer in 2018, said the NPP is more tribal because it has precluded non-Akans from becoming flagbearer of the party.
"The party [NDC] is nationally based but there are some parties which have declared that their leader should not come outside the five Akan regions," he said referring to Osafo Maafo's 2015 comment.
But Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri-Boahen has dismissed the claim on Joy FM's Top Story, saying it is "unacceptable and historically incorrect."
"I was expecting him to speak like a mature politician and not a neophyte," he told Evans Mensah host of the programme, adding Dr Spio-Gabrah lowered his standard with his tribal comment.
Political scientist, Dr Bossman Asare said the nature of Ghana's politics makes it possible for people to make statements that are "unacceptable" like what Dr Spio-Gabrah made.
He said the NPP could no longer be described as a tribal party because of its performance in last year's election especially in the three regions of the north.
"The media should be discouraging this kind of discussions," the Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana said.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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NDC is not a matured party and this spio man has enforced it
Ahhh at ur age u still talk like baby,inst there any meaningful thing to talk about. most of this leaders r cotton head even with the knowledge they acquire in school.
It has been the norm of NDC . If you want a position in NDC, you should be able to attack NPP or insult . Spio is just preparing the minds of other tribes to support him in his bid to lead the NDC. Mills, and Mahama, a fante and a Northerner,( Gonja) has their term , his fear is ,other tribes in NDC will try to kick against any Fante or Northerner coming back now. Spio is therefore playing the mindset of voters from other tribes for support. The Ewes , Ashantis, Gas, Brongs and the Akyems also deserves to lead the party. It is the Ewes who hold the NDC, they need to be recognize. They have the men, well educated to lead the NDC. The argument that the Ewes has led the NDC is here nor there, Rawlings presidency was a transition. It was a gamble not endorsement or by consensus.
I do not think he really said it because I will really be disappointed in him. Such irresponsible statement should not have been made.
Ah ah ah this man says what.Which party is more tribal than NDC. Of all the 10 regions in Ghana is it not only in the Ashanti Region they brought capitation.A party that introduces policies to help the whole tribes in Ghana u call it tribal party.Educated illiterate. A party that introduces policies to help every tribe how can it be tribal.I blame npp because if some of these guys had been jailed,they wouldn't have come out to spew nonses.