The Ashanti Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said President John Dramani Mahama respects every tribe in the country, including Ashantes.
At a press conference in Kumasi on Wednesday afternoon, the party said President Mahama was a unifying president and would not stoop so low as to downplay the Asantes.
The acting Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Raymond Tandoh, was reacting to some media reports discrediting President Mahama for making distasteful remarks during his just-ended three-day official working visit to the region.
According to the media reports, the President, during his tour, said if even he built roads with gold in the Ashanti Region, Ashantes would not appreciate it. Also, he was alleged to have said, ‘Yentie obia’, meaning he would heed any advice.
Mr Tandoh said that the allegations were a desperate attempt by the opposition New Patriotic Party to peddle concocted stories as part of their machination to taint the credibility of the president and the ruling NDC.
He explained that the President, addressing a large number of the NDC supporters during a meeting at the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), rather reminded party supporters that there was the need to concentrate on the good things the government was doing.
He further called on them to stay calm and remain focused because in the view of the President, whatever good work the government does, its political opponent, the NPP, would not appreciate it.
He further said the President used an Akan proverb that says ‘Akoko sa kyere akroma sendenaa enye no fe’. To wit, ‘No amount of dance by the fowl will be appreciated by the hawk.’
He stressed that because the President had respect for the Ashantes and for that matter all tribes, he paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during his visit.
He said at the function, the Asanteman, in its unequivocal statement, renewed its strong support for President Mahama.
He said the President, in his three-day visit, among other places, visited the defunct shoe factory, now Defence Industries Holding Company Limited which was recently revamped by the government.
He said the factory would be able to employ about 800 people and further provide free shoes for less privileged schoolchildren.
The president also inaugurated newly constructed roads at Bremang, a suburb of Kumasi, and an ultramodern Mampong Water project.
He also inspected of roads being rehabilitated and inaugurated electricity projects in some towns and villages in the Ejura-Sekyedumasi municipality.
President Mahama also inspected works on the runway at the Kumasi Airport for safe landing and take-off of flights even at night.
He also inspected work on the 60-bed hospital being constructed at Tepa.
Source: Graphic Ghana
