The menace of tribalism, which is creeping into our
society of late, should cause headaches for all peace loving Ghanaians.
As Ghanaians, one would have thought that we have seen enough of what senseless engagement in tribal politics can do to a nation. Most of us are living witnesses to the carnage that went on in Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Somalia, etc. These countries all fell into the abyss due to tribalism and ethnicity which started at a time they thought was to be overlooked.
When military coup d’états started in Togo and Congo, little did we know that it would spread through Africa like a tsunami and we got our share in 1966 up until after over three decades before we recovered from it. And characterized with its underdevelopment symptoms it is therefore expedient that we safeguard our dear country against any attempt to inject tribalism into our infant democracy.
As Ghanaians, one would have thought that we have seen enough of what senseless engagement in tribal politics can do to a nation. Most of us are living witnesses to the carnage that went on in Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Somalia, etc. These countries all fell into the abyss due to tribalism and ethnicity which started at a time they thought was to be overlooked.
When military coup d’états started in Togo and Congo, little did we know that it would spread through Africa like a tsunami and we got our share in 1966 up until after over three decades before we recovered from it. And characterized with its underdevelopment symptoms it is therefore expedient that we safeguard our dear country against any attempt to inject tribalism into our infant democracy.
For the purposes
of this article we shall use a wider definition of a tribe as a grouping of
people whose loyalty to their group is greater than their loyalty to a nation.
The quest for tribalism and tribal discrimination over the years in Ghana is traced to the following:
Many a tribes trace their superiority of their tribes to history. They most often recount how their forbearers defeated the other tribes in a war or a series of wars and enslaved them. Such people take pride in their history as it becomes extremely difficult or impossible to persuade as they are clouded by today’s reality. They believe that since their ancestors were "better" than the other tribes, so also are they now. Linked to the above is indoctrination.
POLITICIANS AND TRIBALISM. It is sad to say that most of our politicians either covertly or overtly try to whip tribal sentiments for their own political purposes. They try to concoct stories that will infuriate one tribe or the other so that they may not vote for certain parties or individuals.
Scavengers as they are, these corrupt politicians know that they have NOTHING BETTER TO OFFER when it comes to issues of national development and so by playing the tribal card, they are able to skip the issues at stake. They fail to recognize that their actions cause more harm to the very State they want to govern.
The quest for tribalism and tribal discrimination over the years in Ghana is traced to the following:
Many a tribes trace their superiority of their tribes to history. They most often recount how their forbearers defeated the other tribes in a war or a series of wars and enslaved them. Such people take pride in their history as it becomes extremely difficult or impossible to persuade as they are clouded by today’s reality. They believe that since their ancestors were "better" than the other tribes, so also are they now. Linked to the above is indoctrination.
POLITICIANS AND TRIBALISM. It is sad to say that most of our politicians either covertly or overtly try to whip tribal sentiments for their own political purposes. They try to concoct stories that will infuriate one tribe or the other so that they may not vote for certain parties or individuals.
Scavengers as they are, these corrupt politicians know that they have NOTHING BETTER TO OFFER when it comes to issues of national development and so by playing the tribal card, they are able to skip the issues at stake. They fail to recognize that their actions cause more harm to the very State they want to govern.
Perhaps these politicians can not be blamed considering the fact that
they are like vultures who feed on people’s vulnerabilities. Therefore, those
who fall victim are those who allow themselves.
EFFECTS OF TRIBALISM. The negative effects of tribalism in Ghana are not far-fetched. First of all tribalism breeds nepotism which in tend results in Poverty and mediocre deliveries; and Above all, tribalism can be a prelude to a civil war.
Also petty tribal conflicts divert national attention and resources. The amount of money and personnel that are used to quell such conflicts could have been used for other pressing and important needs.
CONCLUSION, There are good and bad people in every race, tribe or family, therefore, we owe it as a duty to leave a peaceful Ghana to our children just as we inherited it. All the tribes in Ghana have more things in common than things that divide us.
In the end we must all reject persons who come to us preaching tribalism and pray that our mother Ghana will continue to be a safe secure haven for us all.
GOD BLESS GHANA!!
EFFECTS OF TRIBALISM. The negative effects of tribalism in Ghana are not far-fetched. First of all tribalism breeds nepotism which in tend results in Poverty and mediocre deliveries; and Above all, tribalism can be a prelude to a civil war.
Also petty tribal conflicts divert national attention and resources. The amount of money and personnel that are used to quell such conflicts could have been used for other pressing and important needs.
CONCLUSION, There are good and bad people in every race, tribe or family, therefore, we owe it as a duty to leave a peaceful Ghana to our children just as we inherited it. All the tribes in Ghana have more things in common than things that divide us.
In the end we must all reject persons who come to us preaching tribalism and pray that our mother Ghana will continue to be a safe secure haven for us all.
GOD BLESS GHANA!!
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