Is
there any difference between these two statements – 1. We vote for you all the
time and 2. We WILL ALWAYS/FOREVER vote for NDC?
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| Nene Sakite II, Konor of Manya Krobo |
So
the paramount chief of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sakite II was
speaking at the commissioning of an extension work by the President John
Dramani Mahama at the Kpong Water Works in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality
of the Eastern region when he made a statement to the effect that “…We (the
people of Manya Krobo) vote for you all the time…”. This was supposed to be
referring to the President and his NDC government.
Per the
Konor’s explanation which I sought from him in the heat of a debate that sprouted
from his comment, he meant to remind the President that in all previous
elections majority of the people of the area preferred and indeed voted more
for an NDC candidate than they did any other candidate. It was therefore
important that the president and, for that matter, the ruling government gave
attention in equal measure or a reasonable one to the myriad of problems in the
area.
The
next day after the event, he was reported in the media as having pledged he and
his people’s everlasting (continuous) support for the ruling government of the
NDC. He was quoted as saying “We WILL ALWAYS vote for the NDC” instead of “We
vote for you all the time…” which he originally said. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=340675
Others
quoted him as saying “We WILL FOREVER vote for the NDC- Konor of Manya Krobo”.
In fact, one newspaper headline read “Krobo Chief leads NDC campaign”. The
introduction of three new words- WILL,
ALWAYS and FOREVER- into Konor’s
statement by the reporters completely gave a different meaning to what the
Konor said.
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| The story as captured by the Daily Guide Newspaper |
Putting
his original statement (We vote for you all the time) side by side what the
media reported (We WILL ALWAYS/FOREVER vote for NDC), admittedly the two are
markedly different. The journalists clearly (or perhaps mischievously) MISrepresented
the old boy and succeeded, to some extent, in creating a huge disaffection for
him.
If
for nothing at all, what the old boy said was in the SIMPLE PRESENT and that of
the media was in the FUTURE CONTINUOUS (I faintly remember my grammar lessons).
That alone should tell you the statements are not the same even if you will
disregard the intent/intention behind the words/statement.
The
observation by the Konor that his people have voted in the past for the NDC
(which is a statement of fact) is not to say that they WILL, ALWAYS and FOREVER
vote for the NDC in the future, which is the unfortunate inference the
reporters made.
When
a few days later the story broke out, many were those who impatiently “demanded
the head of the Konor”- and his crime- “mounting a political platform” and
declaring open support for the NDC. Hardly did readers give Nene the benefit of
the doubt to first listen to the tape/recording to ascertain exactly what he
said before passing comments.
The
public spewed vituperation on him left right center based on hearsay (what the
media reported) and that I find unfortunate. Some people who, in my estimation,
should know better also joined the fray of reactions, much to my surprise.
It
is for this same reason that I find disappointing the reaction from the
Lower/Upper Manya Krobo constituency executives of the New Patriotic Party;
partisan politics seemed to have clouded their judgment and they misfired.
On
Tuesday January 6, 2015, they held a press conference in apparent reaction to what
in their words was the “purported statement by Nene”; Truth is that, holding a press
conference in itself was not entirely a bad idea because they (the executives)
should be seen to be active; Yes, they have constituents who may have been
anguished by the alledged declaration of support to the NDC by Nene and as such
would want to hear from their leadership.
I personally
expected the NPP to have done due diligence by first and carefully analyzing the
recording and basing their reaction on the exact words of the Konor. What did
they do instead? They preferred hinging their reaction on HEARSAY, perhaps to
score some cheap political points. I saw the trap in doing that and cautioned
against it because by openly condemning the Konor based on what HE IS SAID TO
HAVE SAID, the NPP was going to create a huge disaffection for itself; any
fair-minded and right thinking Krobo was sure to take such a mal-adjusted
reaction with a pinch of salt.
Now,
in their kneejerk reaction, not only did they entrench the MISinformation as
reported by the media which expectedly fuelled the disaffection (generated more
negative comments) for the Konor and Krobos for that matter, they also found
themselves caught in the snare, making some misguided/sweeping statements that
are themselves open to different interpretations by any critical mind.
In
paragraph 4 of page 2 of the NPP’s press statement they said in part that
“Since 1992, the electorate in the three Krobo constituencies have always voted
according to their conscience and not according to the dictates of any
paramount Chief”. Then in paragraph 1, page 3 of the same statement, the NPP
said “After voting consistently for the NDC since the inception of the Fourth
Republic and having almost nothing to show for it, Krobos are NOW DISCERNING
and have decided to change their voting pattern come 2016”.
I
smell some contradiction here but that is not the main point I intend to raise.
If the NPP is saying that Krobos are NOW discerning, should I understand that
to mean that until NOW, Krobos (including my honourable self) were not
discerning? Previously, we were doing something else? Isn’t that a polished
insult to me, if not to the entire Krobo citizenry? Why, must (majority of) Krobos
vote for NPP to prove that we are discerning? Only that will we be seen to be
using our God-given intellect/gumption?
Who
even said Manya Krobo is made up of 100 percent Krobos? Has the NPP taken the
pain to study the composition of the population of the area particularly a highly
populated area like Kpong where tribes like Ewe, Loso, Ada, Hausa are known to
be in the majority?
Who
told the NPP that Krobos have decided to change their voting pattern come 2016?
That’s a baseless, sweeping statement there too. You see, there the NPP is,
also speaking generally for the Krobo when they have not so been mandated.
What
is more? In the same paragraph (1) of
page 3, line 5, 6 and 7, the NPP’s statement said “The Krobos have acknowledged
with gratitude how their lives have been positively affected during the NPP era
under Ex. President Kufour…”. Which Krobo told this to the NPP? The entire
Krobo citizenry?
The
NPP further said in the last but one paragraph of page 3 that its “check
indicate that the Krobos have decided to vote massively for Nana Addo and the
NPP come 2016…”There we go again, another general statement that can’t be made
on behalf of the Krobo citizenry. As for me, I will comfortably pitch my camp
somewhere and wait to see if this claim will come to pass, only then will I be
convinced that they have indeed done some checks and are speaking based on
empirical evidence.
Finally
the statement urged “all well-meaning people of Manya Krobo to register their
strongest objection to the PURPORTED statement”. Purported? Not what the Konor
actually said? Hmmmmmm
Personally,
I am disappointed at how the party approached the issue and will not hide my
feelings; it’s not my nature so to do. Going forward, they may want to be more
calculating, if they want to appeal to critical minds. It is my heart-felt wish
also that going forward, the Konor will be mindful of his statements, given the
different meaning of words. His words should be carefully chosen to carry
across exactly what his intent is because borderline statements like this could
be dangerous and we are all living witness to it. The Traditional Council must
also be up and doing; the issues was left to boil for far too long before they
rejoinder was issued. We want to see more proactive steps.
If
for any reason my assessment of this issue fell below your expectation, please
ignore because I did it in my “ignorance”.
-END-
Ghanaweb's version of the story
Daily Guide's version of the story
Below is the NPP's Press Statement
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| NPP's Press Statement (Page 1) |
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| NPP's Press Statement (page 2) |
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| NPP's Press Statement (Page 3) |
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| NPP's Press Statement (Page 4) |
THE REJOINDER FROM THE MANYA KROBO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL
REJOINDER:
KROBO CHIEF LEADS NDC CAMPAIGN
The
Manya Krobo Traditional Council has taken judicious notice of the content of
stories running in the media, reporting Nene Sakite II, Konor of the Manya
Krobo Traditional area as having pledged the continuous support of the people
of Manya Krobo for the ruling government of the National Democratic Congress.
Nene
was delivering his welcome address at the commissioning of an extension work by
the President, John Dramani Mahama at the Kpong Water Works in the Eastern
Region on Tuesday December 23, 2014.
The
thrust and intent of Nene’s statement was that the people of Manya Krobo do
vote for the NDC, he was therefore questioning how come a lot of the needs of
the people of Manya Krobo have still not been met. This was the spirit in which
the statement was made.
While
apologizing for the anguish that may have been caused a section of the public
as a result of the misrepresentation
of facts by the media, it is appropriate that we set the record straight,
putting side by side the words of the Konor and what was reported in the media.
It
is worth noting that while the Konor made an observation of the fact that “We
vote for you all the time,…” (i.e the people of Manya Krobo in the past five
general elections have indeed selected an NDC candidate) what has been
reported by sections of the media that “We
WILL ALWAYS vote for NDC” is a
mischievous and a totally inaccurate representation of what the Konor said or
intended. The introduction of two new words- WILL and ALWAYS- by the
reporters completely gave a different meaning to what the Konor said in his
statement. The observation by the Konor that his people have voted in the past
for the NDC is not to say that they will vote for the NDC in the future, which
is the unfortunate deduction the reporters seek to make.
In
the opening paragraphs of some of the stories in the media, some media houses
gave a deliberate twist to the statement and alledged Nene as saying “His
people WILL FOREVER vote for the
governing National Democratic Congress”. This is patently false. Nowhere in
Nene’s speech did he say that his people will FOREVER vote for the NDC.
It
is clear that the two statements “We
vote for you all the time” and “We WILL
ALWAYS vote for you”, are markedly different in meaning. It is unfortunate
that anybody could misconstrue the two to mean the same thing, thus leading to
the present misunderstanding.
The
Konor and the Traditional Council acknowledge the fact that the population of
the area is diverse- and election results bare testimony. The people have an
unfettered right to freely choose who they want as leaders and this, the Konor
and the Council stand to defend. We also want to emphasize that both the Konor
and the Council respect the individual will of the people and will grant it as
per their political affiliations.
If
for any reason the import of the statement varied from the understanding of a
section of the public, given the different meanings to the words, and for which
reason may have been anguished, the Council regrets it and hopes that this
clarification will put the issue to rest.
Sgnd.
Zizingmozingmo Asada Ahor I
Akuse Matse and Public Relations Officer
Manya Krobo Traditional Council
Odumase-Krobo
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