<<Print>>

Yesterday�s edition of Metro TV�s �Good Morning Ghana� could have ended in fisticuffs between the two studio guests, Anita De-Dosou, women�s organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Frances Awurabena Essiem of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Anita De-Sosou, also known as Jemima, and Frances verbally assaulted and screamed offensive names at each other including �traitor,� �betrayer,� �prostitute� and other unprintable invectives. The verbal brawl was so intense that the programme had to be truncated. While the heated exchange was ongoing, the two ladies wagged their fingers in the faces of each other and simply refused to be moderated by the host, Randy Abbey, who continuously restrained them. Daily Guide gathered that after the programme had been taken off air, the heated exchanges continued and Anita described Frances as a traitor who took money from Woyome yet turned around to criticse him in the media. Frances reportedly got enraged and asked her to substantiate her claim or be ready to be sued. Reports said producers of the show had to smuggle Anita through a backdoor because Frances was so angered that anything could have happened between her and the NDC women�s organiser if no one had intervened. While the heated exchanges were going on during the live morning show, Anita described Frances as a �traitor� and a �betrayer�, allegation to which Frances, in response, also described Anita as a �prostitute�. Frances Essiem had protested that Anita should leave her name out when making her submissions and rather stick to the issues rather than personalize the discussion. But Anita insisted she would not leave Frances�s name out of her submissions and mentioned it in full �Frances Abena Essiem.� Frances, the NPP parliamentary candidate for Adenta in Accra, then turned to Randy and asked him to call Anita to order but just after turning to Randy, Frances focused on Anita and both of them kept babbling on and on, with Frances wagging her forefinger skywards and Anita throwing her hands in all directions. Randy then asked Frances if she would allow him to handle the issue or would want to handle it her won way but an obviously angered Frances continued to ask Anita to withdraw her statements and leave her name out. Anita took the already tense studio to a higher level when in the course of the exchanges, she used the �traitor and betrayer� descriptions on Frances who, in turn, came up with the prostitution allegation. Anita De-Sosou did not pick her phone when Daily Guide tried reaching her over the development. Frances, on the other hand, explained that she got annoyed because Anita had continuously resorted to personal attacks and politicization of the issues and under discussion. �But you see, it was as if she was sent on the programme just to misbehave because the allegations she made against me were uncalled for. I have been a member of the NPP since 2008 and have absolutely nothing to do with her NDC,� said Frances, a former member of the NDC. �Such programmes are supposed to be educational and require intelligent contributions but not personalization of issues and constant attacks,� Frances added. Reports said Anita used to be the �errand girl� for Frances when she was the NDC women�s organiser while Anita was serving as Okaikoi North women�s organiser.