Finally, Akufo-Addo’s Senior Presidential advisor, Yaw Osafo Maafo, has descended from his high horse to apologise to the Ashanti people after he claimed they were useless in Ghana’s fight for independence.
The Bigoted Osafo Maafo was forced to eat his words after Ashanti groups issued a serious warning to him and gave him an ultimatum to apologise or “face the music”.
The apology was contained in a statement issued to the press on July 1.
In it, he stated: “..My comment was never intended to stir up ethnic tensions between Akyems and Asantes” adding that “Ethnic tension is not a thing I want for our country or the NPP. Despite the nature and circumstances of the discussion, I concede that I erred.”
“I, therefore, wish to offer my unqualified and sincere apologies for these comments,” his statement said.
Mr. Osafo, while speaking to party people in a meeting in the Eastern region, denigrated Ashantis, claiming that the largest tribe in Ghana did not play any meaningful role in the independence struggle.
According to him, the true heroes of Ghana’s independence struggle are his people, the Akyems and their chiefs.
His comments were secretly recorded and leaked to the public, causing anger among Ashantis and the eventual ultimatum from the Ashanti Youth group.
Before the derogatory comments about Ashantis, selfsame Osafo Maafo had been recorded during another secret meeting, telling party people that the preponderant amount of Ghana’s natural resources are in Akan lands and therefore only Akans deserve to rule the country.
He has since not apologized for that comment because it remains his view that non-Akans are not fit to rule the country. It was, however, a huge mistake when he escalated his tribal denigration of the Ashantis, who are not only the largest tribe in Ghana but also have the region that is the most important stronghold for Osafo Maafo’s NPP party.
Source: whatsupnewsghana