Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has denied calling Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah a “nobody” during the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presentation of its petition at the Jubilee House.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said his comments were not about Nana Yaa Jantuah’s qualifications or personal status. He said his concern was about the decision to allow only her to receive the NPP’s petition.
His comments follow criticism from Nana Yaa Jantuah, who said she was hurt and disappointed by what she described as a disrespectful remark from the Minority Leader.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on Thursday, August 6, she said she was shocked that Mr Afenyo-Markin would refer to her as a “nobody” during a public event.
“I’m so mortified that you could stand there and look in the face of a woman and tell that woman she is nobody. I just cannot comprehend what happened,” she said.
She argued that the comment was not only personally offensive but also showed disrespect to the office she represented when she received the petition.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, however, rejected her interpretation of his comments. He accused some members of the NDC of twisting his words.
“My friends in the NDC, they can do their mischief and get people to believe in their mischief,” he said.
He explained that his concern was about the decision to send only Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the petition.
“I wasn’t saying that she does not qualify. I said ‘to nominate only you,’ and I underscored it by saying that with great deference, great respect,” he explained.
The Minority Leader said he deliberately used respectful language during the exchange and did not intend to attack or disrespect Nana Yaa Jantuah.
“I am not perfect, but I am also equally aware of my environment. I don’t go out to be attacking or disrespecting people,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also said he would not engage further in the matter, arguing that the controversy was being used to distract attention from the NPP’s demonstration.
“I won’t respond to her,” he said.
He accused elements within the governing NDC of using what he called a “spinning machinery” to shift attention away from the issues raised by the NPP during the protest.
According to him, the demonstration was peaceful and well attended, and the party presented its concerns through petitions to the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
“That a peaceful demonstration, issues well articulated, massive turnout…”
Mr Afenyo-Markin maintained that he would not allow the controversy to distract him from the issues raised by the NPP.
“I am not going to respond to their agenda. I am old enough in this game, so I understand this game,” he added.
