The two sides of the aisle clashed in Parliament on Monday [March 11] over a statement the minority deemed an attack on the running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, almost bringing the proceedings to an abrupt halt.
During a debate on President Akufo-Addo’s recent State of the Nation’s Address, the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, made controversial comments about the running mate of John Mahama from the NDC, sparking a heated argument and name-calling among the members of the House.
According to Afenyo-Markin, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is too old and offers no future to Ghana.
“The flagbearer has gone for a running mate, Mr Speaker, under normal circumstances, they (NDC) should have given us a running mate who will give a future to Ghana like we have given a flagbearer who represents the future of Ghana,” he said on the floor of Parliament. “You have brought a running mate who retired from UCC as VC, came to the Ministry of Education, and performed abysmally. The E-blocks she could not complete the.”
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The Minority side was displeased with the statement. In response, the First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim indicated that the statement was an attack on the president who is 80 years old.
“Mr Speaker, we know the President of the Republic is eighty years old. Therefore an attack on somebody who is seventy years, Mr Speaker, is an attack on the President of the Republic. When he said the running mate is seventy years therefore there is no sense of urgency, we were expecting you to call him because Nana Addo is over eighty years. Did we make a mistake in voting eighty years into power? he said.
The House erupted into a heated argument, with some members referring to the president as the “Sleeping President”. This resulted in the Speaker suspending the house for an hour. When sitting resumed, the majority leader apologised for his comments and calm was restored.
The National Democratic Congress on March 7 announced Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate to partner with its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
The selection has sparked debates about whether she is the right person or not even within the party.
