Compelling Ewes in Ghana to justify identity and citizenship amid a pandemic is bigoted assault on their collective pride

1.           Ewes in Ghana are proud Ghanaians. And if for some reasons, the proponents of the “true owners” of Ghana concept perceive Ewes as hindrance to the achievement of their insipid goals, then they should think otherwise because Ewes are not going anywhere, and neither would they renounce dealings with kinsfolks across the Eastern border nor cave in to any suppressive acts in their homeland. Every Ghanaian participating in the ongoing mass registration exercise is bracing the storm with caution to ensure unnecessary exposure to the risks of COVID-19. However, for Ewes, participation in the registration exercise has become an existential obligation and a clarion call to repel often repeated erroneous insinuations that they are “foreigners” in their country.

2.           With a legendary suppression-averse heritage, Ewes have always proven to be resilient and thrived with talent in the annals of Ghana. The coexistence of Ewes with others within the territorial boundaries of the country is an entrenched reality and actions geared at reconstructing the situation in pursuit of the so-called “true owners” grand designs would certainly backfire. Undoubtedly, participation in the registration exercise would unleash an all-out response from Ewes with a strong signal not to tamper with their identity and citizenship.

3.           Recall the recent shrinking of the domiciled landscape of the Ewes under a seemingly spurious regionalization agenda; and the ongoing siege disrupting the economic and livelihood activities of the people along the Eastern border in the name of sanitizing the voters register.  Arguably, these activities are calculated attempts to reduce the total number of thumbprints from the Ewe mainland. Under the “true owners” strategy, a reduced Ewe votes is the surest guarantee of electoral success which warrants any scheme of disenfranchisement regardless the risks of exposure to the COVID-19.

4.           A clear message is that without the kinsfolks from Togo infiltrating the voters register, the impact of the Ewe votes is non-consequential hence, any shenanigans to prevent such an occurrence is worth the effort of the administrative state. The critical challenge now for Ewes in Ghana is to render this notion immaterial by registering with caution in a mass to solidify their stronghold and significance in the politics of Ghana for the benefit of the homeland. An Ewe voter fatigue was certainly a factor in 2016 elections which sent an underlying strong message not to take their thumbprints for granted. Similarly, an Ewe voter enthusiasm in elections 2020 would fortify the collective pride of the people, and thwart any overt or covert strategy to repeatedly “first-guess” identity and citizenship in their homeland.   

5.           To prevent Ghana from straying onto the path where a group of people considers itself as the “true owners” to consistently question the identity and citizenship of others, the A&A Network and partners advocate the adoption of the Blended Representation (BRP) of Governance in Ghana. For details on BRP, visit www.anani-afelnetwork.org

July 05, 2020