Ursula urges Mahama to apologise over ‘Akyem Sakawa’ post

Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has urged 2020 NDC flagbearer, John Mahama to apologise over a Facebook post deemed ethnocentric.

Ursula Owusu who is Ablekuma West NPP MP was speaking at the launch of her re-election campaign team said Mahama should “retract and apply humility in his quest to come back to power.”

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, a native of Akim Oda in the Eastern Region, was reacting to an article shared posted on the official Facebook page of Mr Mahama.

The write-up was originally authored by MP for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, on the Agyapa Royalties deal aimed at raising $1billion for the government.

The article was titled: “Agyapa Royalties fraud is the last straw: The Akyem Sakawa Boys and Grandpas must go”.

The president, Nana Akufo-Addo is an Akyem from the Eastern region as is his Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. The president’s Executive Secretary Asante Bediatuo is also an Akyem.

Sakawa is a local term for internet fraudsters.

The use of the term ‘Akyem Sakawa’ appeared to suggest the ethnic group is full of fraudsters.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful who is also from the same ethnic group as the president, said she was surprised at the former president’s choice of words and hoped the post making rounds on social media was fake.

But if indeed it is true then “maybe [Mr. Mahama] didn’t think twice before remarks on Akans so he should proceed with an apology”.

She said “Akyem people cast vote in this country” and therefore it was inappropriate for members of the opposition party to spite them.

“You can’t insult someone in public and go and beg in private. We are waiting for his apology,” she added.

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful also took on her colleague MP for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, who appeared to have made a light-hearted post about a commical, new social media trend, Kumerica.

Kumerica, derived from Kumasi and America, has been trending on social media as natives from the Ashanti region try to elevate the region into prestige status.

 

Designs of the Kumerica currency and T-Shirts have been circulating on social media. Some entertainers joined in the wave to release songs.

In a Facebook post, Mr Samuel Nartey George wrote:
“All these Kumerican ‘noise’. I would take it serious if they can say after me – The brown parallelogram logo is a collateral alliteration”.

But the MP for Ablekuma West did not find it funny.

“Another one also said Asantes can’t speak English,” she said in what is believed to be a veiled reply to Sam George.

“They should know that Asante and Akyem lives also matter and you should not use abusive language against them,” she said.

“No Ghanaian deserve to insults, especially [from] those of us going to plead for votes”.

She charged her constituents and members of her party to refrain from insults and indecent language in their campaign activities ahead of the 2020 elections.

“We should campaign on our record and achievements,” the minister advised while expressing confidence that the electorate would reward the NPP for “a good job” in the last three and half years.

Present at the programme were Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, the National Security Advisor; the MCE for Ablekuma West, George Cyril Bray; as well as some executives and members of the NPP.

Members of the campaign team include:

Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

George Cyril Bray

Samuel Bright Osei Puni

Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako

Kwasi Ofori

Samuel Ayitey Tagoe

Fred Tetteh Mills Wowolo

William Annor Adu

Kwaku Tabi Amponsah

William Ofori

Wilberforce Alonyeku Mensah

Christina Maame Afedo

Faustina Kissi

Jonathan Lazarus Nii Lomo

Philip Gyimah

Alhaji Huseini Karimu

Aminatu Mohammed

Eric Adomako

Stallone Nyarko

Alfred Atta Adoosi

Sandra Frimpong

John Tsivanyo

Lawuratu Musa Saaka

Naa Dedei Tagoe

Patrick Obeng

Charles Mensah

Kwabena Kyem

Robert Kwesi