The proposed “Ashanti Project” by the Ashanti Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has met massive condemnation by Cadres and old guards of the party and non Asante indigenes in the party.
Nana Nanabanyin Queesy Ninsin-Imbeah II, Secretary of the Defunct Kumasi Metropolitan Central Coordinating Committee of Work place CDRs and Comrade Clement Sangaparee, a founding member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and member of the United Cadres Front of the party are vexed about the said project, which is intended to champion
the bid to ensure that all persons who aspire for positions at the regional level in the impending regional elections are Asante indigenes.
The senior Cadres have condemned the project in no uncertain terms, describing it as a bad political project.
Mr. Johnny Osei Kofi, a former Deputy Chief of Staff under the Mahama administration, has confirmed the emergence of the tribal agenda dubbed “The Ashanti Project” in the NDC, during an interview with Sompa TV, in Kumasi.
He told the host, Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye that, the idea that an Asante leads the NDC in Ashanti is not his personal idea.
“It is something we started back in 1992 with even Chairman Rawlings” and explained that “it was a deliberate idea to get more Ashantis leading the party here, just to make it attractive”.
Mr. Osei Kofi stressed that the fact that we (NDC) abandoned that idea over the years does not mean we cannot go back to it. It is something some of our big men in Accra support and, therefore, he will not shy away from it today or tomorrow.
He questioned if it is possible to go to the Volta region and see Osei Kofi leading the party as chairman, or go to the North and see Osei Tutu as chairman there.
“Why should Ashanti be different”, he queried and concluded that he was stating facts and not preaching tribal politics.
But Nanabanyin Ninsin-Imbeah says “the project is a clear demonstration and unfortunate exhibition of hatred for non-Asantes”.
According to him, the NDC has never known and seen such gross wickedness and pure hatred for other tribes before.
He urged the leadership of the party to take a cue from the shining example of the Ashanti King, Opemsuo Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, under who the Asanteman Council and the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) have accepted all other tribes in their fold to constitute a cosmopolitan
enclave, and discourage such a poisonous agenda.
The ex-Nyimfahen of the Mfantseman Council in the Ashanti Region has, therefore, called on all non-Asantes in the NDC in the Ashanti Region to guard against the introduction of a new type of Comradeship in the party.
Mr. Clement Sangaparee, a founding member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and member of the Obuasi branch of the United Cadres Front cautioned the party to be wary of the Project because it could affect the electoral fortunes of the party in the region and at the
national level.
According to him, the hate campaign allegedly championed by the former Regional NDC Chairman, Yaw Obimpe, brought the Party back to Opposition in 2016 and advised the NDC Council of Elders to tread carefully.
He called on delegates to vote against all aspirants who campaign on tribal lines.
Elections for regional executives of the party have been scheduled to take place in November this year.
