1. The way the West thinks of Africa is how some
southerners look at northerners. We are Ghanaians; we are not second class
citizens.
2. The North-South divide is old. Things need to
change. Breaking the negative stereotypes the rest of Ghana has about
northerners begins with you.
3. I will not be made to feel that I'm any less
of a Ghanaian because of where I come from. I'm a northerner, a Ghanaian. We're
here to stay.
4. When I vent about how some Ghanaians perceive
northerners, people think I'm just an angry woman. Of course, I'm angry. My anger is justified.
5. If I start to tell you about the things people have said to me
because I'm a Dagbana or a northerner, you'll be scandalized.
6. I know people who suffer the discrimination and insults in silence. I
will not shut up. I'll talk about it till you open your mind.
7. I sat in a Madina bound trotro & a woman got a call. She started
speaking Gurune and someone asked what UGLY language that was.
Instead of condemning her, everyone burst into laughter. I didn't know
how to express my anger because I couldn't speak Twi.
8. I've been called names, insulted &
discriminated against because I am a northern Ghanaian woman. I have been made
to feel like an alien in my own country.
9. I say I can't speak Twi and people question
my Ghanaian-ness. I speak Dagbanli fluently. I am a Ghanaian. You will not tell me who I am.
10. They make you feel ashamed about your
inability to speak certain Ghanaian languages. Lmao, it's like colonialism all
over again.
11. The thing is, many of you will not take half
the BS northerners in this country are subjected to. You will throw up when you
hear the stories.
12. I condemn tribalism in any form. I am just
telling you my experiences so that you know what really is going on in this our
beloved country.
13. Don't defend the actions of people who are
tribalistic, put your ethnic affiliations aside and analyze the issues
critically. #OneGhana
14. I'm not saying any of this to start a fight. I'm showing you what
northerners experience on a regular basis. Open your mind and learn!
15. Just look at what northerners are called: “pepeni”,
“tani” etc. and we are called these names with disdain. It's like the highest
form of othering.
16. You think that demeaning placard is one person's view? Live just ONE
day as a northerner in Ghana and you will know many Ghanaians think that way.
17. The lived experience of northern Ghanaians is shitty. It's like
we're extras in the Ghanaian movie. Not even supporting actors, extras!
18. They find out you are a northerner and they
ask, "Do you know Abu? He's from the North." No we don't live in hamlets,
thank you!
19. It is not about ethnic groups hating ethnic
groups, it's a constant perpetuation of negative stereotypes of northerners
even in the mass media.
20. Media organizations
have time and again misled the populace. They swap the Upper East and Upper West
regional capitals without batting an eyelid.
21. These are regional capitals we are talking about. It's like saying
Accra is the capital of the Central Region. Preposterous, right?
22. When a northerner does something wrong, they
come up to you & say "Your people..." I'm like, “Shut up and
drink gari”.
23. Assess @JDMahama's competence as a person, not based
on his ethnic affiliations. That's just dumb. Be critical, not shallow.
24. Our culture of silence is what is killing
us. We need to talk about all the unpleasant things going on and try to fix
them. #OneGhana
25. I've been talking about my lived experience
as a northern Ghanaian. Others have experienced same. We need to fix it, not
fight about it. I'm done.
I faced this on the daily as a young girl growing up in Accra with Northern roots. Peeps are straight to think am Ewe because of my skin complexion. I tell them am a Kasena and they are so perplexed, That's not even the worst of thing they go on and make statements like you don't look like them, you don't have their tribal mark and you don't behave like them. Like WTF y'all talking about. Ignorance is no excuse. This stereotype must be put to a halt. Yes We are northerners and we are also Ghanaians.
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