A.B.A: Nana Endorses Agyapong�s Sexist Comment

The flagbearer of the biggest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, should forget about the presidency if he cannot instil discipline within his own party, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnarigu, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, has warned, adding that the three-time flagbearer and the leadership of the party are unlikely to denounce the Assin Central MP because “they endorse all those insults and violence, which is the mark of their leader, and Kennedy Agyapong is one of his henchmen”.

Mr. Fuseini argued that the failure of the NPP flagbearer to get “his house” in order shows that he will not be able to handle the affairs of the country.

The NDC lawmaker’s comments were in reaction to a statement made by Mr. Agyapong that the Chairman of the Electoral Commission offered sexual favours in exchange for her appointment.

Mr. Agyapong, on Saturday June 25, during the campaign launch for Asokwa MP Patricia Appeagyei in Kumasi, said Mrs Osei – then chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who was appointed in June 2015 to replace long-serving EC chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan – had been advised by some highly-placed persons in government to “bring your derriere in exchange for the EC Chair position”.

The MP has been criticised by several persons including the Media Foundation for West Africa’s Suleiman Braimah and some parliamentarians for the comments. Also, Children, Gender, and Social Protection Minister Nana Oye Lithur described the remark as regrettable, saying Ghanaian women would not countenance personal attacks on women who have committed to serve Ghana in public office. She said as a public officer, Mr Agyapong should rather promote non-discrimination, respect for human dignity, and gender equality. Also, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Hanna Tetteh said the “vicious attacks” were unfortunate, since Mrs Osei was a lawyer and professional capable of getting the EC Chair job on merit.

Council of state member Ama Benyiwa-Doe also joined the condemnation fray on Wednesday June 29 and accused the NPP lawmaker of never having any respect for women. Also, the Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, a women’s right civil society organisation, Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, urged the leadership of the NPP to find ways of counselling Mr Agyapong. Speaking in an interview with Prince Minkah, host of the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class 91.3FM on Wednesday, Mrs Dwamena-Aboagye said: “I think it is most unfortunate, he should not have said things like that. It equals assassination of character, it is defamation, it is scandalous and should not be heard from a leader of a country. I think it is very wrong.” Also, former Attorney General Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu said in a statement that: “I am very happy to hear of the support from our various women rights advocates. I join the many voices of well-meaning Ghanaians to protect the values, ethics and culture of our heritage. Never again must women be subjected to such humiliation and ridicule. It is just enough! I have been a victim of this Kennedy Agyapong's ‘hit’ speeches, but I survived. I call on the August house of parliament to take appropriate steps to discipline such characters. Again the NPP must cleanse itself of such dirt to appear credible in the protection of women rights”.

The silence of Mr Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the NPP on the matter has been condemned by the Sagnarigu MP. “I thought that by this time, the NPP, and especially the leader who aspires to lead this country, who says he is an alternative to President Mahama, [will act] but he cannot even control things in his own party. He cannot even control his own party members, so how can he control Ghanaians?” he asked in an interview with Class FM’s parliamentary correspondent, Ekow Annan, on Wednesday June 29.

“Are you telling me that if an individual who belongs to your party makes a very dangerous statement, which has a possible negative impact on the party, you will sit down and say that he does not speak for your party and his utterances will not affect the party? Are they sincerely saying that the NPP is not affected by the statements of Kennedy Agyapong?”

According to Mr Fuseini, Mr Agyapong had been involved in indiscipline for a long time and must be condemned and hauled before the privileges committee of parliament. This would send a signal that the leadership of the house did not condone indiscipline, he explained.

“It is important for the necessary injunctions to be invoked in parliament. There are sanctions that can be imposed on MPs who, by their conduct, bring the house into disrepute. It is clear and people are even questioning: 'Is this man a Member of Parliament? How can MPs speak like this?'" To him, Mr Agyapong’s comments “are dishonourable,” and do not qualify him to be an MP.