Volta regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mawutor Agbavitor has descended on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, describing it as wicked, incentive, self seeking, and ethnocentric in the fair share of national resources to the people of the Volta region. Mawutor Agbavitor is a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him, the people of the Volta area were being purposely marginalised by the NPP government in order to settle political scores. He said this was not good for the embryonic democratic ideals of the country, which he claimed were still developing.
Agbavitor made these remarks during a dialogue session held by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday, July 13, in Ho. The session was organised by the Community Focus Foundation (CFF-Ghana) in partnership with the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA-Ghana) and the Democratic Credentials Network (DCN-Ghana). It was held under the auspices of the Community Focus Foundation (Ghana).
He stated that it was disheartening to see the rise of exclusionary practises within the political landscape of a country that takes pride in its democratic principles. He went on to say that "politics, at its core, should be a unifying force, bringing together diverse voices including political actors and citizens to take collective actions in the right perspectives for the greater good of our nation Ghana."
"We cannot ignore the painful reality of marginalisation experienced by certain regions, such as the Volta Region, under the current government, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – It is important to highlight specific examples of how the ruling government has excluded and marginalised the Ewes and the Volta Region," Agbavitor emphasised. "We cannot ignore the painful reality of marginalisation experienced by certain regions, such as the Volta Region under the current government, the New Patriotic Party (NPP)"
Since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government gained power in 2017, the Volta region, according to what he stated, has experienced a disregard of important infrastructure advancements as well as the abandonment of projects.
This lack of investment slows down the advancement of the region, restricts economic growth, and limits prospects for residents of the region, he added. "Basic amenities such as roads, schools, hospitals, and water supply systems have been chronically underfunded and overlooked."
It was deliberate on the part of the government, according to Agbavitor, to send military personnel to voter registration centres in the Volta region in advance of the general elections in 2020. This raised serious concerns about the suppression of democratic participation, which was the bedrock of Ghana's young democracy. Agbavitor added that such actions undermined the principle of free and fair elections, "casting a shadow on the democratic values we hold dear."
He emphasised that no region should be used as a political pawn or be exposed to discriminatory practises as has been seen in recent years. He said that this is something that should never happen.
It is our collective responsibility, as citizens and leaders, to oppose the politics of exclusion and demand inclusivity from our government. "Each region, including the Volta region, deserves equal attention, support, and opportunities for growth and development. " He stated that we needed to hold our leaders accountable for their acts, including the right to register and vote in national elections, equitable allocation of resources, and fair treatment of all areas. "We need to hold our leaders accountable for their actions," he concluded.
We can build a stronger and more united Ghana that upholds the principles of democracy and justice if we embrace inclusivity and reject exclusion, as the Chairman of the NDC urged the government and all other stakeholders to do in order to ensure that every Ghanaian, regardless of their ethnic background, religious affiliation, or geographic location, "can fully participate in our democratic process and benefit from the opportunities our nation provides."
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