Asante Akyem North MP condemns Fatimatu Abubakar’s remarks on NDC MPs’ English proficiency

The Member of Parliament of Asante Akyem North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, has condemned remarks made by former Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, regarding the English proficiency of some National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs.

In an interview on GHOne TV, and monitored by GhanaWeb, on Monday, February 24, 2025, he explained that the ability to speak English fluently should not be a measure of one’s competence in parliamentary proceedings.

"I don't think that it was the best for the former minister to say that. We all go through certain processes to become Members of Parliament, and we know that English is used in almost all of these processes. But if you are saying that someone cannot express themselves because they cannot speak English properly, I think that is very unfortunate," he said.

He further explained that public speaking challenges can differ among individuals, stating that some MPs may struggle to express themselves before large audiences despite their competence in smaller settings.

"Some people really do not have the courage to speak when there is a large audience. That is the actual problem, not the fact that they cannot speak English," he added.

During a recent interview on Movement TV, Fatimatu Abubakar mocked some NDC MPs, alleging that their struggle with the English language had limited their participation in parliamentary debates.

She claimed that this had inadvertently allowed the NPP Minority caucus to dominate discussions, making them appear as though they were in the majority.

JKB/AE

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