Another Akyem group has risen to the defence of former President John Mahama in the ‘Akyem Sakawa boys’ controversy.
It comes after a group of residents in the Eastern staged a demonstration at Asamankese against the NDC flagbearer over the tagging which was used in an article by Bolga Central MP Isaac Adongo.
In a statement, the Progressive Akyem Citizen group said: “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”
The statement stressed: “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”.
They accused the earlier group of acting in the interest of the ruling NPP.
Below are details of the statement
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?
4. 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.
5. 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?
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 unnecessary tension in our Republic.
9. 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.
10. Again, We demand no apologies from Mr. John Mahama since he has committed no wrong.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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
