“Media assault” on me “chauvinistic", “misogynistic” – Victoria Hammah

Victoria Hammah says she “will not be distracted” by the “chauvinist, misogynic, ageist” “media assault” on her as Deputy Communications Minister.

Reacting to the recent avalanche of flak against her, especially on social media, after her speech faux pas on July 30, Ms. Hammah, in a press statement posted on her facebook wall said: “It is unfortunate that the whole matter has been extremely sensationalised and employed as a pretext to re-enforce prevailing prejudice on my character and capabilities to the Ghanaian public”.

In the statement issued on Monday August 12, Ms. Hammah said: “It has become imperative for my personal clarification on the conduct of events at the official launch of the Deloite and Touche Campaign Against Cyber Crime on the 30th of July 2013 in Accra which has attracted several targeted news reports, reviews, discussions and uninformed comments on social and electronic media”.

According to her: “The Campaign Against Cyber Crime is a flagship commitment of Government to upgrade and strengthen cyber security through up-to-date legislative and policy measures with the cooperation of the private sector, civil society and other key industry related stakeholders.

I believe strongly that despite the challenge to present an extempore address, government policy outline on the subject was delivered with detailed and consistent clarity leading to a satisfactory outcome of the programme”.

She bemoaned that: “It is unfortunate that such an important matter of Cyber Security would be dwarfed by an unusual development relating to my refusal to present a written address and to provide an explanation to the audience”. Ms. Hammah, however, conceded in the statement that she could have handled the situation much better than she did.

“Although I admit that perhaps I could have afforded to be more guarded in my reaction, I firmly hold to my deep consideration that the presentation of an unapproved address to me on an official occasion is a serious and intolerable administrative lapse,” she admitted.

She further emphasised that: “this lapse occurred outside my direct and immediate responsibility”.

“Fortunately, I am glad to state that I am not alien to this development which is deeply rooted in chauvinist, misogynic, ageist and similar reactionary tendencies since entering public life. I will, however, not be distracted by such media assault in my duties as Deputy Minister of Communications,” she added.

The Deputy Minister said she is “encouraged by the satisfactory outcome and encouraging fallout of the 30th July Anti-Cyber Crime Campaign launch in Accra and the overall growing prospect of the Communication Sector in relation to the Better Ghana Agenda”.

“I believe strongly that young men and women in Ghana can not only be encouraged to provide innovative intervention in the governance process but also there is the need for the acceptance that they have the right to participate in the determination of the future of this country”.