Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to ask its Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to apologise to Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah over comments he allegedly made during the party’s protest at the Jubilee House.
According to him, political disagreements should not lead to disrespect for individuals, especially public officials carrying out official duties.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Gbande said Nana Yaa Jantuah was acting on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama when she was assigned to receive the NPP’s petition at the Jubilee House.
“You are protesting and you get to the Jubilee House. We all have our families at home and in Ghana, and we all know that when you are addressing a woman, there are certain things that must be considered,” he said.
He added that the NPP’s conduct towards the presidential staffer was unacceptable and should not be encouraged.
“Nana Yaa Jantuah was sent to receive the petition on behalf of government, and you disgrace her, someone who works at the Jubilee House. I think such behaviour should not be tolerated by anybody,” Mr Gbande stated.
He urged Mr Afenyo-Markin, who has been involved in politics for several years, to uphold proper conduct and respect the traditions associated with the seat of government.
“Even though Afenyo-Markin has done politics for long, he should know how the house is run. You cannot go to the Jubilee House and disrespect the workers of the Jubilee House,” he said.
Mr Gbande recalled that similar protests were organised when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in opposition, but he claimed the party did not insult officials at the Presidency.
“When we were in opposition and we organised demonstrations, we did not insult people the way they are doing today. If you disrespect and insult someone, we must condemn it,” he added.
He stressed that political activities should not come at the expense of Ghanaian values and cultural norms.
“We don’t throw away ethics and culture because we are doing politics. We were all brought up with good home training before we came into politics, and we must demonstrate Ghanaian culture in the politics we practise,” he said.
Mr Gbande further appealed to the NPP, describing it as a party with experienced and respected members, to address the matter.
“If the NPP knows what is best for them, they should bring Afenyo-Markin to apologise to Nana Yaa. It is demeaning,” he said.
His comments follow Nana Yaa Jantuah’s decision to petition the Speaker of Parliament over comments allegedly made by Mr Afenyo-Markin during the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” protest at the Jubilee House.
Mr Afenyo-Markin is alleged to have described her as “a nobody” after she was assigned to receive the party’s petition on behalf of the Presidency.
Madam Jantuah said the remarks were disrespectful not only to her but also to President John Dramani Mahama, who delegated her to receive the document.
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