The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has criticised the Presidency for assigning Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah to receive the party’s petition during the “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.
Nana B described the decision as disrespectful and questioned why President John Dramani Mahama did not appoint a more senior government official to receive the petition.
“Why should President Mahama send Nana Yaa Jantuah, a third-tier presidential staffer, to receive the NPP’s demonstration petition? It is a sign of disrespect toward the NPP,” he said.
According to Nana B, the demonstration was attended by top officials of the party, including the Minority Leader, former ministers and national executives, and therefore deserved a higher-level representative from the Presidency.
“We had high-level party people among the protesters, former ministers, party national executives and the Minority Leader. You bring a presidential staffer to receive the petition. That didn’t show respect,” he said.
He also compared the event with previous NPP demonstrations, saying the Deputy Chief of Staff had received petitions from the party’s youth wing in the past.
“The first one, they brought the Deputy Chief of Staff to receive the petition, and that was even by the youth wing. Then you look at this protest and the leaders involved, and you bring a presidential staffer to receive the petition,” he added.
Nana B said the NPP responded by asking its Deputy National Youth Organiser, Sandra Sarkodie, to hand over the petition to Nana Yaa Jantuah.
He accused the Presidency of trying to downplay the importance of the demonstration and expressed disappointment in President Mahama over the decision.
“It is the President I’m disappointed in. If it was a delegation and she was part of it, that would have been okay. This is above her. She should have said no,” he said.
