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There seems to be a turf war stoking as a group calling itself the Progressive Akyem Citizens (PAC) fires back at another group with the name Concern Citizens of Okyeman, following the latter’s demonstration against the NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama.

The Concern Citizens of Okyeman on Wednesday embarked on a demonstration, protesting against the usage of the “Akyem Sakawa Boys” on some elements in the ruling Government.

They became the first group to be granted the chance to demonstrate despite Government’s ban public activities over the covid-19 scare.

The group, made up of the chiefs and residents of Akyem Abuakwa, Kotoku, and Bosome, all in the Eastern Region are demanding an apology from John Mahama, who shared an article originally from the MP for Bolgatanga Central.

But their action has quickly being countered by the PAC, describing it “misguided emotionalism”.

In a statement to discredit the existence of any group called Concern Citizens of Okyeman, PAC says the demonstration on Wednesday was reckless.

“We see their action as reckless and dangerous to our beautiful democracy built over the years as a country,” the statement read.

Read the full statement below

PROGRESSIVE AKYEM CITIZENS(PAC)

For Immediate Release

OKYEMAN YOUTH MUST STOP THE UNNECESSARY PARTISAN ATTACKS ON JOHN MAHAMA

We the members of the Progressive Akyem Citizen wish to express our disappointment and shock at the misguided emotionalism and unhealthy political infiltration by a group by name Concern Citizens of Okyeman.

We see their action as reckless and dangerous to our beautiful democracy built over the years as a country.

For the purposes of emphasis, let us state unequivocally:

1. That, this so called Concern Citizens of Okyeman hurriedly put together for partisan purpose does not represent the entire Akyem land. They are a few politically motivated young men who have come together to do the political bidding of their paymasters.

2. As people interested in the development of Akyem, we condemn these acts of political infiltration aimed at maligning other politicians especially John Mahama of the NDC in the name of Okyeman.

3.That, we as a group wish to state in no uncertain terms that the use of the word ‘Akyem Mafia’ and other tribal related comments to refer to Ghanaian politicians in our body politics was not started yesterday and John Mahama of the NDC is not the originator. The first time we heard of Akyem mafia was when Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, a former campaign manager of then candidate Akufo-Addo, published in his book entitled ‘Chasing the elephant into the bush: the politics of complacency’. In the said book, Dr. Kennedy sought to describe the behavior of certain political figures in the NPP who had surrounded Nana Akufo Addo who, according to him, caused his 2008 presidential defeat through their mafia works. This gave birth to the AKYEM/KYEBI MAFIA tag on some few NPP power brokers. Where was these group? What has changed today? Is it that they endorsed the Mafia tag because Dr. Arthur Kennedy was a member of the NPP or it espoused the political might of those few Akyem political power brokers? Isn’t this ridiculous?

1. We also want to state clearly that the post on facebook which was only republished by Mr. John Mahama has the member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central as the originator.

2. Why have our brothers decided to crucify Mr. John Mahama who only shared a comment by somebody? Is this a case of let’s hang the dog and give it a bad name?

1. For the records, Hon. Adongo in that Facebook post used the Akyem sakawa boys to refer to a few people in government who have been engaging in fraudulent acts and were pushing for another, named Agyapa Royalties deal. He, at no point referred to we, the people of Akyem, as Sakawa People.

2. It will therefore be an overstretch, born out of partisan political mischief, for anybody to extend and generalise such specific description of a few of our compatriots in government, to all Akyems.

3. Such a reckless Generalisation, triggered by His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, and inciting this NPP group, only seeks to further divide us as Akyems and create unneccessary tension in our Republic.

4. Rather than showing such blind Solidarity to a few of our Powerful kingsmen in Government, we will advise our compatriots to channel their energies in advising them to behave in a manner that brings honour to we, the citizens of Akyems.

5. Again, We demand no apologies from Mr. John Mahama since he has committed no wrong.

6. We wish to tell our Akyem brothers that there are other pressing issues confronting the various communities in Akyem area and we expect our brothers to channel our energies towards demanding solutions to our enormous challenges.

1. We expect all of us to judge all political parties by the content of their manifestoes rather than clutching on tribal sentiments that may destroy our peaceful coexistence as a people.

2. Consequently, we will demonstrate in the coming days to show our protest against a few of our compatriots in government!!

We thank everybody and wish that our friends will cut this pettiness and fight for the welfare of our Akyem land.

CHAIRMAN/CONVERNOR KWABENA YEBOAH-KORANKYE (Okyeman Lawyer) 0261479190 b.yeboahkorankye@gmail.com

Kwame Otchere 0541273747 Secretary

Alex Amoah Organizer 0243994797

Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Koku Anyidoho has once again likened Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the biblical King Cyrus.

Mr Anyidoho is showering praises on Akufo-Addo for honouring his promise of renovating the Asomdwee Park where late Professor John Evans Atta Mills was buried.

At the 8th anniversary remembrance of the late president, the government through the Coastal Development Authority promised to give the facility a facelift.

In an Okay FM interview, Anyidoho revealed that the clearance has been given for work to commence on the site.

Check This Out: You’re driving away swing voters – Ben Ephson to Mahama, Akufo-Addo

An emotional Anyidoho expressed gratitude to Akufo-Addo for staying through to his words.

He indicated his readiness to visit the president at the seat of government and thank him officially for honouring the image of Atta Mills.

“As I speak to you, works are ongoing at the Asomdwee Park thanks to President Akufo-Addo. The design for Asomdwee Park was made in 2012 but as to why we couldn’t finish it, I don’t know but Nana Akufo-Addo has made it possible. A letter has been issued for the contractor to reconstruct Asomdwee Park to its original design,” he said.

Anyidoho further said the reconstruction of Asomdwee Park is an answer to his fervent prayers.

“Just as we went to former president Rawlings to show appreciation, in due time, I would lead my team to flagstaff to thank Akufo-Addo. I have fasted and prayed and the Lord has answered my prayers. I would thank Akufo-Addo for allowing Asomdwee Park to be constructed so that God’s name will be glorified,” he noted.

The CEO of Atta Mills Memorial Institute mentioned Akufo-Addo as a person sent by God to bridge the difference between the two parties and unite the country as a whole.

Check This Out: NDC announces Sectoral Spokespersons for its Election 2020 ‘People Manifesto’

“The deep partisan thing is not helping anybody. Ghana has been working on one leg since independence because of that partisan thing. President Akufo-Addo, if you are the Cyrus that has given the go-ahead for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, I like Daniel, Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego are grateful”, he told Okay FM.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Renowned pollster, Ben Ephson has cautioned former President John Dramani Mahama who is seeking re-election on the ticket of the  National Democratic Congress  and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the risks posed to their respective parties in engaging in public rebuttals.

His comments follow a recent string of unsavoury political statements on ethnic lines made by John Mahama and a subsequent reply from president Akufo-Addo.

John Mahama in an attempt to run down the controversial Agyapa deal endorsed an article written by Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo which had the title “Agyapa Royalties Fraud Is The Last Straw: The Akyem Sakawa Boys and Grandpas Must Go.”

The article in question was described by many Ghanaians as ethnocentric and had the potential of whipping up ethnic sentiments in the build-up to the December 7 general elections.

Though this did not sit well with President Akufo-Addo, he also in a similar fashion retorted by saying amongst other things that “The comment made by my opponent: ‘Akyem Sakawa’ people, I have not heard any public figure in this country or anybody comment on it…If I was to get up to make a comment about northerners or Gonjas, you can imagine the uproar that will be in the country.”

While this has become another opportunity for politicians to feed on, Ben Ephson has said these insults and ethnocentric play, at best, will scare away floating voters who are yet to decide on who to cast their vote for.

Unlike party faithful who may be unfazed by the recent happenings, he posited that these insults will generally repel votes for the two parties.

“Insult repel votes…the president has also replied him. If the president hadn’t replied to him, he could have used it against him. The two of them insulting each other might only lead to some floating or swing voters deciding to stay at home…” Ben Ephson told GhanaWeb in an interaction.

Check This Out: NDC announces Sectoral Spokespersons for its Election 2020 ‘People Manifesto’

With regards to security and the tension building up in the country with barely three months to the elections, he insisted that it was not a new phenomenon and will not in any way plunge the fortunes of the upcoming polls in danger.

“…I don’t think these insults will bring the elections into any danger because we’ve gone through more intense elections than this one. The only thing is that your opponents can use the insults against you…”

Reemphasizing the importance of swing voters and the need to for the two leaders to secure their votes instead, he further argued that “Swing voters are the king makers, as for your supporters whatever you’ll say they’ll vote for you…So, the insults are likely to drive away swing voters. The insults have the potential to make swing voters sit at home, the emphasis is on swing voters.”