Condemn Agyapong if you respect women - NDC to Nana

If Nana Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), respects women, then he should condemn the sex-for-job comments made by fellow party member Kennedy Agyapong about the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Charlotte Osei, National Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr Kofi Adams has dared.

Mr Agyapong’s comment has been widely condemned by several individuals and civil society groups.

For instance, 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 of 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.”

On the same show on the same day, Mr Adams said Mr Akufo-Addo must show leadership and prove he respects women by publicly condemning Mr Agyapong. “This is not about how she [Charlotte Osei] is working, it is about an attack on a woman because she is a woman and that for me is absolutely wrong and must be condemned by all. …We should expect to hear the position of the leader of their party [Nana Akufo-Addo]. If, indeed, he respects women, this is the time for him to act, this is the time for him to speak and be counted or forever be forgotten”.