Coronavirus: NDC, NPP clash over Deputy Chieftaincy Minister's false alarm

Supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) clashed over a statement by the Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mr. Paul Essien that Nzemaland had recorded one case of the Coronavirus epidemic.

On Easter Monday morning, the Deputy Minister who doubles as the MP for Jomoro went on a private radio station called New Day FM in his Constituency to announce that Nzemaland had recorded the Coronavirus and warned residents in the area to fear one another.

Mr. Essien made the radio broadcast a day after the Ghana Health Service had announced that the Western Region had recorded its first case of the Coronavirus at Anto in the Shama District.

The Ghana Health Service did not name the particular District in the Region which had recorded the case but the Deputy Chieftaincy Minister quickly went on air blow an alarm that the case was found in the Nzema area.

Later in the afternoon, the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah issued a press statement which indicated that the case was recorded at Anto in the Shama District.

The Deputy Minister's announcement therefore put fears in residents of the entire Nzema area and has been condemned by some residents in the area.

While the NDC is condemning him, the NPP seems to be justifying and defending him.

In a statement issued by the NDC and signed by its Communications Officer, Patrick Ellonu, copied to the media, they have described the Deputy Minister's statement as falsehood and malicious.

"The Deputy Minister who should have known better went to the gutters to disgrace his office and the people of Jomoro whom he represents in the Parliament of Ghana, on a radio station in the Jomoro Municipality known as New day FM by stating it clear that 'Ellembelle has recorded one case of the Coronavirus' without verifying the authenticity of his statement from the Health Directorate of the Ellembelle District", the statement read.

"After our checks and further crosscheck from the Health Directorate at both the Jomoro Municipality and that of the Ellembelle District, it was found that the Deputy Minister's statement was not only falsehood but also malicious", the statement added.



The NC by the press statement called on the MP to render an unqualified apology for causing fear and panic and after which he must also resign as a Deputy Minister.

"We the NDC members in Jomoro are therefore calling the braggadocios MP who has nothing to show in his three and half years to come out and apologise to the good people of Nzemaland and after resign honourably for disgracing us ,because such a caliber can not be paid with our tax payers money", the statement demanded.

"A member of Parliament who continues to disgrace his Constituents whenever he gets any opportunity to speak on National issues can not continue to lead a serious Constituency like Jomoro", the statement emphasized.

The statement hinted that, "We state without any equivocation that if Hon. Paul Kabenla Essien refuses to apologise and resign as well as a member of Parliament and also a deputy minister we will petition the President and the speaker of Parliament for his misconduct".

But in a sharp rebuttal, the governing New Patriotic Party through its Constituency Secretary, Eric Muah has justified the statement made by Mr. Paul Essien on New Day FM in the area.

"For the records, the Hon. MP spoke passionately on New Day FM's Morning Show about the need to adhere to the precautionary measures put in place to combat the COVID19 pandemic. His passionate appeal to his constituents was based on the numerous calls he received that the directives were being flouted", the statement explained.



"Prior to the MP's comment on New Day FM, the renowned Adom TV had announced a recorded case of COVID19 in Ellembelle District. For the passionate love he has for his people, the Hon MP, reminded the people to adhere to the precautionary measures put in place by the Health team of the ruling NPP government", the statement added.

According to the statement, the MP did not mention Ellembelle District.

"As usual, the NDC, with no alternative to making Jomoro better for their 20 beautiful wasted years, found this as an avenue to make a political fortune", the statement stressed.

"Now, our question to the NDC, why didn't you report the correspondent of Adom TV since they made it clear that Ellembelle had recorded a case? DESPERATION LEADS TO SHAME", the statement quizzed.

According to the NPP, the NDC is desperate for power hence their hatred against Mr. Paul Essien.

"This, no doubt, is a show of desperation. We are reminding the NDC that Non-NDC Ghanaians do not have short memories as purported by their Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama".

The NPP party in the Jomoro Constituency is therefore, calling on the NDC in the area to do issue based politics.

"We would like to use this opportunity, like we have always done to ask our brothers to divert from their outmoded and super incompetent ways of politicking and upgrade"

"Issue based politics is what is invoked, they must embrace it", the statement concluded.