Majority's Women Caucus condemn Minority's 'bloody widow' attack on Wuogon MP

The Women Caucus of the Majority in Parliament, has condemned the Minority Caucus for walking out during the swearing-in ceremony of the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan on Tuesday, 5 January 2019 and also describing her as a “bloody widow”.

The Minority MPs said they boycotted Ms Alhassan’s investiture because they did not want to give credence to her victory in the by-election on Thursday, 31 January 2019, which was characterised by violence.

Heavily-armed National Security operatives shot and wounded supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress at the private residence of the party’s candidate about an hour into the by-election.

In a statement, the Minority said: “We have staged a walkout in order not to give credence or legitimacy to that bloody election and her subsequent so-called swearing in.

“It is our sincere view that the memory of our departed colleague does not deserve this sort of bloody legacy even if Madam Lydia Alhassan and her collaborators think otherwise.”

Before staging the walkout, the Minority MPs brandished placards on the floor of the house, some of which read: “Bloody widow”.

Reacting to the Minority Caucus, the Women Caucus of the Majority told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday, 6 February 2019 that they find the behaviour of the Minority repulsive.

Asokwa MP Patricia Appiagyei said linking the shooting incident to Ms Alhassan was unfortunate.

She said: “To be honest with you, there is something I want us all to take note of: we conducted an election and that election was not conducted by Lydia. It was conducted by the Electoral Commission. If there has been any incident, I don’t see how you can attack the personality of the candidate.

“If you are actually concerned about the way or how the people got to be there to cause that kind of [mayhem] that came about during the election, it is not Lydia’s to answer those questions. So, why are you boycotting her swearing-in? It has nothing to do with her.

“So, we see it as a personal attack. We don’t know what is motivating them to attack her that way and that is our very serious concern because they are antagonising her. Coming to parliament for the first time to meet such a reaction should be taken with exception and we condemn it utterly.”