2024 Election Should Focus on Competence, Not Tribalism – Kojo Harrison Reacts

Kojo Harrison Abban, a member of the National Communications Team for the NDC, emphasized that the upcoming election should prioritize competence over religious or tribal affiliations.

Harrison’s comments were a response to Juliana Ofori, who urged Zongo communities to vote for Mahama based on the notion that he could use the Quran to swear in court. He argued against the notion of supporting candidates based on religious or tribal politics, questioning the rationale behind such voting decisions.

He posed a hypothetical scenario: if Bawumia or the NPP campaigned in a constituency with an NDC parliamentary candidate from Zongo, would Bawumia then ask voters to support the NDC candidate merely due to their shared background?

Harrison also noted that Bawumia has never made statements endorsing tribal politics, underscoring the ineffectiveness of such an approach.

He encouraged Zongo communities to recognize that Bawumia’s agenda is primarily self-serving rather than focused on their interests. If Bawumia truly cared about the needs of Zongo communities, he would support NDC candidates who come from those backgrounds.

Furthermore, Harrison stressed that the election should not revolve around religious or tribal identities but should be centered on the competency of candidates based on their records and policies. He warned that prioritizing tribalism undermines democracy and detracts from pressing issues that should influence voting decisions.

He reiterated Mahama’s stance that the 2024 election is fundamentally about Ghana’s economy, not about religious, tribal, or gender conflicts. In conclusion, he challenged those inclined to focus on tribalism to consider who might win under such conditions.

This discussion took place on Friday, November 8, 2024, during the Maakye show on Kessben 92.9 FM, hosted by Kwame Appiah.

Harrison’s remarks highlight the ongoing debate about the role of tribalism in Ghanaian politics and underline the importance of focusing on competence and economic development.

Story by: Graced Osei Yeboah