A Political Scientist Dr. Richard Amoako-Baah has said the dismissal of the Ashanti regional minister, Samuel Sarpong, by President John Mahama may give credence to perceptions that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a “northern party”.
According to him, the President should have considered the ethnic background of Mr. Sarpong and the political influence of his Ashanti heritage before taking the decision.
President Mahama on Wednesday, withdrew with immediate effect, the appointment of Mr. Sarpong and his deputy Joseph Yammin over reasons yet to be known.
A statement signed by Communications minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah noted that the Brong Ahafo regional Minister will act as Ashanti regional minister until a substantive one is appointed.
Speaking to Kafui Dey on Morning Starr Wednesday, Dr. Amoako-Baah said the President should have been more tactful with the decision.
“The President wants to win one million votes in the Ashanti region and we know that his base of support in the Ashanti region is Asawase (A Muslim community in Kumasi).
“And so if the foot soldiers are mostly from there, and you remove the Ashanti regional minister who is also an Ashanti or Akan, it means that you are solidifying your base and not adding anything to it.
“We do know that there have been tribal overtones in all of this and it has come up again; we know that Asawase is predominantly Northerners, then you fire a regional minister who is an Ashanti; it reinforces that idea that the NDC is a Northern party,” he explained.
