Former Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Rachel Florence Appoh, has criticised the constituency’s current MP, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, over remarks he allegedly made to victims of the recent floods in the area.
Her comments follow the widespread flooding that affected parts of the country on June 28 and 29, 2026, leaving many residents in Gomoa Central and surrounding communities displaced and counting significant losses after heavy rains submerged homes and destroyed property.
The criticism comes after a video circulated on social media showing a flood victim appealing to the MP for assistance. The legislator’s response in the video sparked public backlash, with many accusing him of using inappropriate and offensive language towards constituents.
Reacting to the incident, Appoh, who is also a former Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the MP’s conduct was inconsistent with the responsibilities expected of a public office holder, particularly during a humanitarian crisis.
She said leaders are expected to show compassion and provide comfort to people in distress, regardless of the circumstances.
“As a leader, even if the person calling for help did not talk well, you comfort the victim first. You voluntarily decided to be their MP, and this comes with responsibilities,” she said.
Appoh further criticised the MP for allegedly making remarks suggesting he did not care whether constituents voted for him again.
“Saying that we should chew our voter ID cards if we won’t vote for him is an insult, and that’s unfair. This is unfair to the flood victims and unfortunate for the people of Gomoa Central,” she stated.
She called on the leadership of Parliament to intervene, arguing that Members of Parliament are bound by a code of conduct and ethical standards.
“In Parliament, there is a Code of Conduct and there are ethics guiding Members of Parliament. You cannot speak just anyhow as a parliamentarian. The title ‘Honourable’ is earned because Members of Parliament are expected to conduct themselves honourably,” she said.
Appoh maintained that if the MP no longer wished to represent the people, he should make that clear rather than disrespect constituents.
“If he doesn’t want to represent the people again, he can say so. Leadership is about people, being kind, showing respect and being trustworthy so that people can come to you with their problems,” she added.
The former MP also argued that public officials must remain accountable for their actions and communications, especially when engaging citizens affected by disasters.
She further contended that leadership should not be measured solely by infrastructure development but also by empathy, respect and responsiveness to the needs of the people.
