NPP flagbearer aspirant Kennedy Agyapong has launched a controversial tribal tirade in his latest campaign message to party delegates.

Addressing NPP delegates in Kyebi, in the Abuakwa South constituency of the Eastern Region on Wednesday, Mr. Agyapong urged Akans to rise up and reject minority tribes in the country to claim what he described as their rightful place in the NPP flagbearer race.

The former MP said he could not understand why MPs from the northern part of the country could unite behind one candidate in the NPP race, while MPs from the south, particularly Akans, failed to do the same for him—one of their own. He warned that such disunity could lead to “royals becoming slaves” if not addressed.

Let me tell you something. My grandparent told me something — that what is good is what is your own, he said.

Let us be very careful because we are making a mistake. Some people are able to get together and say, ‘This is our brother.’ But when it gets to our turn, we are not able to unite. We shall remain servants if we don’t change our minds. If we remain disunited, we shall remain servants for long. I’m speaking Twi to you, and I am not afraid of anyone. I will speak my mind.

When you go to some places, they will say, ‘I would have supported you, but if I show my face, they will say I’ve betrayed my brother.’ But as for you, an Abuakwa person, have you not betrayed your brother? What you would not be happy with if it were done to Kweku, don’t do it to Kwesi, he added.

Mr. Agyapong caused further stir by claiming that minority tribes are threatening and discriminating against the majority Akan tribe—a situation he said “would never be tolerated in any other country except Ghana.”

I am surprised that we, the majority, sit down for the minority to discriminate against us, he said.

Tribal politics are going on, and it looks like you people have not seen it. The royals will soon become servants if we don’t change our attitude. I am telling you, and I’m not afraid.

Today I am standing in Nana Akufo-Addo’s hometown and speaking Twi to you. We are not afraid of anybody. In which country do you allow the minority to threaten the majority? Only in Ghana. It is only in Ghana that we allow the minority to threaten the majority, and it is because we don’t love ourselves. Let your Akyem be of concern to you. If we don’t do that, they will take us for granted in Ghana.