Ghana: 1) Documentation regarding human rights abuses (i.e. burning property, shootings, etc.) directed against members of the Ewe tribe and perpetrated by members of the Ashanti tribe 2) Documentation regarding the harassment/abuse of family members of Rawlings by members of the Ashanti tribe
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA2301 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: 1) Documentation regarding human rights abuses (i.e. burning property, shootings, etc.) directed against members of the Ewe tribe and perpetrated by members of the Ashanti tribe 2) Documentation regarding the harassment/abuse of family members of Rawlings by members of the Ashanti tribe, 1 October 1989, GHA2301, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac662c.html [accessed 9 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
1)The Ashanti are a sub-group of the Akan people, the single largest ethnic group in Ghana. [Kaplan et al., Area Handbook for Ghana, (Washington: U.S.Government Printing Office, 1971), pp.88-89.] The Ewe are a separate ethnic community, accounting for 13 percent of Ghana's population. [Naomi Chazan, "Ethnicity and Politics in Ghana", Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 97, No.3, Fall 1982, p.462.] The mother of J. J. Rawlings, the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), is an Ewe, and therefore, Rawlings' regime has been occasionally accused of promoting Ewe interests to the detriment of other ethnic groups. [Donald I. Ray, Ghana: Politics, Economics and Society, (London: Francis Printer, 1986), p.31.] Rawlings' supporters counter these accusations by pointing out that his wife is an Ashanti, and is related to the Ashanti royal line. Donald Ray in his book, Ghana: Politics, Economics and Society, writes "Although this fact is not widely known in Ghana, it perhaps symbolizes the desired overcoming of rivalry between the Ewe and Asante." [Ibid.]
The Akan have always questioned the Ewe's commitment to a united Ghana since prior to Ghana's independence in 1956 most of the Ewe occupied British Togoland, a United Nations Trusteeship. The fact that a small number of Ewes have made secessionist demands has served to strengthen suspicions about their loyalty. [David Brown, "Who are the Tribalists? Social Pluralism and Political Ideology in Ghana," African Affairs, 81, 22, January 1982, p.61.]
The Akan have also persistently claimed that the Ewe dominate the military, giving them an unfair advantage in a country in which the military has played a decisive role in politics. The rank and file of the Ghanaian military, however, is dominated by northerners (non-Akan and non-Ewe groups), with the Fante (Akan) and the Ewe being almost equally represented as the dominant ethnic groups in the officers' corps. [Ibid., p.45.]
When Rawlings came to power for the first time in June 1979, he prosecuted many members of the former government on grounds of corruption. As the majority of these officials were either Ashanti or Brong (both sub-groups of the Akan), there appeared to be an ethnic bias in the proceedings, although many observers feel that this was unintentional. [Ibid., p.65.] Since coming to power for a second time on 31 December 1981, Rawlings has made efforts to accommodate a broad section of Ghanaian society. [Ray, p.38.] In the words of Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1988, "ethnic differences are intentionally downplayed by the Government." [United States Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1988, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1989), p.140.]
Attached is a brief article from New African (August 1989) which describes Rawlings' relation with the Asantehene, the king of the Ashanti.
2) The IRB Documentation Centre does not hold any information regarding abuse or harassment of members of Rawlings' family by squad/gang members of the Ashanti tribe.
