In what appears to be a direct response to Nana Akufo-Addo’s “all die be die” comment, President John Evans Atta Mills has issued a stern warning to any group of persons or individuals, who may want to cause panic or chaos for their personal ambitions.
The NPP’s 2012 Presidential Candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, recently urged supporters of the NPP across the country to resist ‘to the point of death’ any acts of intimidation during the 2012 General election. Nana Addo’s comment, which was also considered ethnocentric by some commentators, has been criticized by the NDC and some members of civil society.
The President, who joined the bandwagon of condemnations during the 2011 State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Thursday February 17, said he had ordered the country’s security agencies to deal decisively with people who may want to disturb the tranquility Ghanaians are enjoying.
“I have asked the security agencies to deal decisively with any group or persons who would want to disturb the peace and tranquility that we are enjoying in this nation. I will not sit and allow any persons to cause panic or chaos in our nation for their personal ambitions” the President warned.
“We must allow the things which unite us to override the things which divide us. I will not sit and allow any persons to cause panic or chaos in our nation for their personal ambitions. Whether we are Akans or non-Akans, we are all Ghanaians. No one group is inferior to the other. We are all one people with a common destiny.
“Therefore let us begin to build Ghana with a united sense of purpose so we can build a Ghana that generations yet unborn will be proud of. To those who are interested in war mongering, I want to tell them their agenda will not see the light of day”.
“Ghana will not die; Ghana will live to give glory and thanks to our maker and creator the almighty God. We have built a solid foundation, we will build a solid structure and we will build a better Ghana. May God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong” he concluded.
Members of the Minority have however condemned the President’s comments, describing it as most unfortunate.
Responding to the Majority Leader’s move for the House to adjourn, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu described the President’s address as the “most divisive” he had ever heard.
“Indeed we should allow the things that unite us, override that which divides us. But I must say that never in my life have I seen such a divisive address. This is the most partisan state of the Nation Address I have ever seen. It is indeed a sad day in the history of Ghana. On that sad note, I second the motion” he said.