NDC accuses NPP leader Afenyo-Markin of sexism over “nobody” comment
The NDC has accused Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin of making a sexist and disrespectful comment after he questioned why presidential staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah received the NPP’s protest petition, describing her dismissal as an attack on women in leadership.
Ghana’s governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin for describing presidential staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah as a “nobody” during the opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) protest petition presentation, calling the remark offensive and disrespectful to women in public service.
The NDC Deputy Women’s Organiser, Abigail Elorm Mensah, said the comment reflected a disregard for the role of women in leadership and governance.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, she defended Ms Jantuah’s position at the presidency, saying she held a “legitimate and respected role” and was qualified to receive the petition on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
“To dismiss her on the basis of gender is to undermine the principles of merit, professionalism and equality that our nation must uphold,” Ms Mensah said.
She accused Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Effutu, of making remarks that were “deeply offensive and sexist”, arguing that they went beyond Ms Jantuah and affected women serving in leadership positions across Ghana.
The NDC official called on the Minority Leader to issue an apology to Ms Jantuah and Ghanaian women, and urged the NPP leadership to distance itself from what she described as discriminatory comments.
The controversy followed the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration on Thursday, where party supporters marched to the Jubilee House to present a petition over what they described as threats to Ghana’s democratic governance.
Ms Jantuah, a presidential staffer, received the petition on behalf of President Mahama, who was attending a national memorial service marking one year since a military helicopter crash that killed eight state officials and military personnel.
During the presentation, Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned why the government had assigned Ms Jantuah to receive the petition, saying the issues raised by the protest required a more senior government representative.
The NPP has not yet responded to the NDC’s accusations.