Don’t sacrifice the most qualified candidate on the altar of ethnic consideration - Manasseh to NPP

Don’t sacrifice the most qualified candidate on the altar of ethnic consideration - Manasseh to NPP

- Manasseh Azuri Awuni has said that the debate on who leads the NPP into the 2024 elections must be based on competence

- He said reducing the debate to weaning the NPP of the Akan tag is flawed

- There has been a massive campaign for the NPP to select Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

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Ace investigative journalist, Manasseh Azuri Awuni, has waded into the debate over who leads the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2024 elections.

According to Awuni, the debate over who leads the NPP must be hinged on competence not weaning the party from its ‘Akan’ party tag.

Don’t sacrifice the most qualified candidate on the altar of ethnic consideration - Manasseh to NPP
Don’t sacrifice the most qualified candidate on the altar of ethnic consideration - Manasseh to NPP
Source: Original

The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, recently stated that the time has come for the governing party to wean itself from the ‘Akan party’ tag by choosing flagbearers from different tribes.

He argued that it will be foolhardy and unwise for the NPP to present an Akan flagbearer for the 2024 elections after choosing two Akans – former President Kufuor and current President Akufo-Addo.

Read also

Alan must be running mate for non-Akan flagbearer - Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu

Awuni, however, disagreed with the Majority Leader who is also the Member of Parliament for Suame in the Ashanti Region.

“The discussion should not be that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia must be fielded because he is a “northerner” or non-Akan,” the celebrated journalist and writer wrote.
“If the most qualified candidate in the line of succession is an Akan, he or she should not be sacrificed on the altar of ethnic consideration.
“I’m from the north, but if you field a known thief or vindictive and intolerant candidate from the north, I wouldn’t be stupid to vote for that person just because he comes from my part of the country,” he added.

Awuni said despite not being naïve to the role ethnicity plays in the country’s politics and the challenge facing the NPP that is woven around ethnicity, “the context of the discussion, however, appears flawed.”

He argued that selecting Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the NPP’s 2024 flagbearer because the party wants to wean itself from the Akan party tag “diminishes Bawumia’s achievement in the party and presents him as a pitiable recipient of political favour.”

Read also

NPP cannot continue to present Akan flagbearers after Kufuor and Akufo-Addo - Majority Leader

In other news on YEN.com.gh, award-winning Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson, painted a miserable picture of Ghana under the Akufo-Addo administration.

In a series of tweets sighted by YEN.com.gh, the ‘Keteke’ actress said: “This country is exceptionally hard for anyone who wants to walk the right path!”

She bemoaned the disturbing phenomena where people had to “cut unthinkable corners” to make ends meet in the current Ghanaian economy.

“Everywhere bribe! Even if you don’t want to, it’s what you have to in a lot of cases. Mabr3,” she stated.

Forson’s frankness generated loads of reactions.

@iam__kusi in his reaction narrated his painful ordeal with the GRA.

This problem erh, I went to GRA to register my company for VAT. The new company these guys were demanding 3500 for a newly registered company about to start operations. Meanwhile, Vat registrations are supposed to be free.

@OwenPasino praised Forson’s bravery in holding those in power accountable.

Read also

You’re the leader Ghana needs; no man can dim your light - Anglican Bishop to Bawumia

I like her bravery spirit. She says things as they are. "The unthinkable corners" heerrrr hmmm. Some of your colleagues will come out to say hard work.

@SharkMike2 added:

Hard truth. But we CANNOT develop without doing the RIGHT THING. REASON why we have so many die-hard supporters all over. But it will surely change; will not be like this forever!

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Mohammed Awal avatar

Mohammed Awal Mohammed Awal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (Journalism) at the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He has worked in print and online media with Ghanaian-based The Chronicle newspaper, Starr FM and US-based online portable, Face2faceAfrica.com. He also had brief stints with Africafeeds.