Before we delve into the subject matter; which is how we Ghanaians in general, carved out of several ethnic groupings can leverage on our ethnic differences to achieve collective goal of national development, let us first take broader and realistic look at what tribalism is. That would give clearer understanding on why I believe there’s nothing wrong being tribalistic.
Looking up the meaning in dictionaries, different definitions and explanations are presented on what tribalism is. In principle, the key definition that runs in all is that tribalism is simply having a strong sense of loyalty or allegiance to one’s own tribe or group. From this basic meaning, it’s clear that there is nothing wrong with owning and being loyal to one’s heritage or ethnicity. Any addition to this basic understanding is an attempt to explain the perverted and misguided use of the word, tribalism.
Tribalism only becomes problematic on the basis of superiority and inferiority. Where one group sees itself more important or superior to another or seeks to take undue advantage of or discriminate against others outside theirs.
The superior group says, “This tribe is not good enough to mingle with us” and the inferior group feels they are not good enough to sit together with their neighbours from another tribe.
It is this false sense of superiority and false sense of inferiority that create an unnecessary, immoral tension and discomfort around the use of this term tribalism. Other than that, there is nothing wrong when an Akan or Ewe person demonstrates strong sense of loyalty to his or her ethnic heritage.
Back to the substantive point, as indicated earlier, Ghana is made up of dozens of different ethnic groups, however, on average, Ghanaians do not really weaponize tribal differences against each other. This cannot be true several years ago or at pre-colonial era where tribal acrimony and wars were normal occurrences. Modern Ghana from the time of independence presents some sort of tribal blindness where citizens are more tolerant and do not really care about their tribal differences.
As someone who grew up in Accra-a typical cosmopolitan city, one big compound house could have in it six families of different ethnic background living side by side and in harmony. Nobody really cares if you are Ga, Fante, Asante, Ewe or Mamprusi. However, you cannot always escape as an ‘ayigbey’ person, the stereotype of how Ewes enjoy voodoo/juju and how they harm others through this practice. Some even discuss how bad it is to marry from the Ewe tribe.
I relocated to a typical Akan land because of work and I was surprised to see many Akan ladies married to Ewe guys. A number of them are my own colleagues. The most interesting aspect is that, should anyone try to run the usual commentary on how bad Ewes are, most of the ladies would jump to the defence of their Ewe husbands. They usually begin like this; “As for my husband, he is caring, the best husband”, among other nice things to say.
Clearly, Ghanaians are not really tribalistic in the bad sense of the word; Boarding schooling system, city of universities bringing together many young Ghanaians from every corner of the country and widespread inter-tribal marriage contribute to lack of serious tribal bigotry among the newer generation.
TRIBAL POLITICS
The only people who love the idea of tribal strive and wield it as a weapon are some of our politicians or the political class. The only time Ghanaians are constantly reminded about tribal differences is when there is an impending national election. ‘Divide and rule’ has been a vital tool in the hands of misguided men to take and consolidate power. This had been the norm in ancient period of Alexander the Great and it is as modern as many ongoing conflicts around the world.
In desperate quest to capture or maintain power, politicians in Ghana do not shy away from deliberately stoking tribal sentiment to help their course. Some do it more aggressively than others.
NDC politician feels the people of Volta region owns it an allegiance to vote massively in its favour because the founder of the party-J. J Rawlings is from there and one of them. On the other hand, NPP also utilises the same mindset on Akan lands; especially in the Ashanti Region because the party founders, particularly Ex-president Kuffour is one of them.
In every election period, the volta region is proudly dubbed “The world bank” of NDC and the Ashanti Region, “The world bank” of NPP but strangely enough, both two regions are hardly tagged, “The development bank of both parties”.
Apparently, politicians in this country only maximize tribal difference to achieve political goal to the benefit of their families, members of their inner circle at the expense of millions of citizens.
How?
The constitution of Ghana does not allow ethnic discrimination in ‘sharing the national cake’. Such move would certainly set the country on fire as we have witnessed elsewhere. The politicians from both divides know this well and so they only play the tribal card for self-interest and after winning power, they treat everyone the same- underdevelopment is evenly distributed in all regions.
Another powerful benefit of tribal politics to politicians is that they easily avoid accountability as they blatantly steal the nation’s money and resources for their children and children’s children. When an NPP politician is caught in massive corruption and calls grow for him to be held accountable, he and the party will complain about political persecution and witch-hunting and then rally behind people of Ashanti to defend him. Ultimately, the substantive issue of clear criminality is set aside. Similar thing happens with the NDC and corrupt officials from Volta Region.
Few years back, President Nana Akufo Addo visited Otumfuo Osei Tutu in his palace after winning his second term in office. In rather interesting twist, the president lined-up a number of his appointee-ministers who hail from the Ashanti region and presented them to Otumfuo like some kind of reward for the people of the region. That was shocking because, many people thought the President would have listed a number of development projects that will inured to the benefit of the masses. Instead, he was bragging about the few Ashantis he elevated.
These ministers he was bragging about are old people and well-established individuals; most of who don’t care about the ordinary person in the region.
What happens to the advice, “do not employ your close relatives in running your business?
Ghanaians in general, especially Akans and Ewes must wake up to term the reality that, the political class only enjoy using all of us for their parochial interest.
If for nothing at all, it is for a good reason the cliché advice: “Do not get your family members involved in running your personal business”. If your parent or brother joins your business and the actions and inactions lead to constant losses, it may be difficult to stand your ground and straighten things up. You wouldn’t want to take drastic action that may result in a fallout with your mother or brother in your business. An employee you do not connect to by family, it’s much easier to insist they do the right thing or they get fired out of sight for good.
What am I driving at with this? Because of the subtle utilitarian political games both parties play, Ashantis may not really demand and insist an NPP government does the right thing and they are reluctant to criticize them. Ewes may also be slow in their demand when an NDC party they massively vote for fails to deliver on its promises. Psychologically, they don’t want to be seen fighting “one of their own” and so they choose to look on and suffer.
It is like NPP government telling Ashantis; “Vote for us because its more honourable to allow one of your own to impoverish and starve you of decent living than someone from another tribe”. The same goes to the NDC party and Ewes. But, is it not more painful if a child is starving to death in the presence of his own wicked aunty who is holding food in abundance? What NDC and NPP have been doing in this country with tribal politics fit this analogy.
In the final analysis, even if we want to hold onto tribal politics, let the Ewe people say; “We have elected on several occasions NDC into government but they don’t really help we the masses and we find it difficult to hold them accountable. Let us rather elect NPP so that we can demand of them forcefully to do the right thing.” The people of Ashanti could also come to the same conclusion on NPP and seek to elect NDC into power and demand of them to deliver the better Ghana they always promise.
In conclusion, Ghanaians of different ethnicity must appreciate their unique harmony in diversity and stop crook politicians from exploiting tribal differences only in an election time for their selfish, wicked gains. After election, they treat the masses of Ewes and Ashantis the same-no meaningful development. When this is done, we will be able to elect leaders collectively who willingly or be forced to put the welfare of the nation at heart and not to build unexplained endless wealth for themselves, family and friends overnight.
