UDS Don Decries Hypocrisy Over Akufo-Addo’s Ethnocentric Politics

A Senior Lecturer at the University of Development Studies, Dr. Michael Ayamga-
Adongo has called out Ghana’s so called moral society over their silence over what
he points out is ethnocentrism that being perpetrated against the people of the Volta
Region.
In a write-up, Dr. Ayamga-Adongo addresses the Peace Council and religious
leaders over the issue, warning their silence implies that the impression that some
ethnic groups are more important in Ghana than others is endorsed by them.
He warns that the targeting of Voltarians by the Akufo-Addo government is a bad
precedent that follows in character to ethnocentric wars in other places, including
Rwanda where ethnic cleansing led to more than 800,000 Tustsis and moderate
Hutus being massacred.
“I am appalled by what is happening in this country.  Not even the President has the
right to determine who is Ghanaian. No ethnic group or tribe is more Ghanaian than
the other. Check all the countries that slide into violence and you would see a leader,
a tribe or organisation that felt their citizenship was higher that the citizenship held by
others. It may be the volta region today but tomorrow may be for those of us near
Burkina Faso or those bordering Togo and Cote D’ivoire,” he wrote.
 “While others went and registered in cordial environments, the people of the Volta
region did so in the mist of heavily armed military men shouting at them. Someone
needs to start speaking truth to power. Our religious leaders, peace council, all the
rest. By keeping quiet you are saying it is okay to do so and please don’t tell me you
are talking to them behind the scenes.”
 The UDS senior Lecturer’s write up follows the militarization of the Volta Region by
Akufo-Addo as part of the compilation of the new voters register. In peace time, the
NPP Government President sent in heavily armed soldiers and Police to the Region
in what is seen as state-sponsored belligerence against people of the Volta Region,
which is the stronghold of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
 As part of the intimidations, the soldiers went from house to house hunting for so
called foreigners.

Meanwhile Mr. Akufo-Addo has claimed that the voter registration so far has been
smooth, peaceful and violence-free.