Don’t condemn Ken Agyapong; investigate allegations – Otiko Djaba
The National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says
instead of the public-wide condemnation of Kennedy Agyapong, his
allegations that Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) secured
her job by granting sexual favours should be investigated.
According to her, if the allegation by the Assin Central legislator is left to die, it may leave doubts in the minds of Ghanaians and hence have far reaching consequences on the outcome of this year general elections.
“We are going into an election, the referee is alleged to have something doing with one party in the game, and you say we shouldn’t find out the truth in it but rather crucify the person who made the allegation?” Otiko Djaba quizzed.
Following Mr Agyapong’s allegations that Madam Charlotte Osei got her job to Chair the EC after sleeping with power brokers, there have several condemnations by National Democratic Congress (NDC) women groups and other women rights activists.
Some of them have also petitioned Parliament to punish as well as call Mr Agyapong to order.
However, speaking after a three-day capacity building workshop for the Eastern Regional Women’s wing of the NPP in Koforidua, Otiko Djaba said the allegations by her colleague party member must not be taken lightly.
“A Member of Parliament has alleged that the EC boss had sex with someone before she was offered a job, instead of us finding out the truth in the matter, the NDC is organizing women groups to demonstrate against the MP? Why are we not investigating whether the President have something doing with the EC boss or not?” she said.
She adds, “It’s only the President [John Mahama] who has the power to appoint Commissioners at the EC and as such he appointed the Chairperson of the EC so if the Commissioner is alleged to have exchanged her womanhood for a job, then who gave him the job? it certainly is John Mahama, because he appointed him.”
She said If indeed the Chairperson of the Commission has any relationship with President Mahama then it becomes an issue of conflict of interest and no one can guarantee the fairness and neutrality of the EC in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
According to Otiko Djaba, there has been a lot of hypocrisy and double standards demonstrated by some Ghanaians following Kennedy Agyapong’s comments.
She recalls that many people including influential people in the NDC have made worse comments against women in this country but those utterances never saw the kind of organised and sponsored demonstrations that has greeted Mr Agyapong’s.
“Women who are not married at the age of 30 years were described as prostitutes by a Presidential staffer and a leading member of the NDC in this country but these women groups never condemned it. Look, we must be serious in this country and stop politicising every issue," NPP women Organizer said.
credit myjoyonline
According to her, if the allegation by the Assin Central legislator is left to die, it may leave doubts in the minds of Ghanaians and hence have far reaching consequences on the outcome of this year general elections.
“We are going into an election, the referee is alleged to have something doing with one party in the game, and you say we shouldn’t find out the truth in it but rather crucify the person who made the allegation?” Otiko Djaba quizzed.
Following Mr Agyapong’s allegations that Madam Charlotte Osei got her job to Chair the EC after sleeping with power brokers, there have several condemnations by National Democratic Congress (NDC) women groups and other women rights activists.
Some of them have also petitioned Parliament to punish as well as call Mr Agyapong to order.
However, speaking after a three-day capacity building workshop for the Eastern Regional Women’s wing of the NPP in Koforidua, Otiko Djaba said the allegations by her colleague party member must not be taken lightly.
“A Member of Parliament has alleged that the EC boss had sex with someone before she was offered a job, instead of us finding out the truth in the matter, the NDC is organizing women groups to demonstrate against the MP? Why are we not investigating whether the President have something doing with the EC boss or not?” she said.
She adds, “It’s only the President [John Mahama] who has the power to appoint Commissioners at the EC and as such he appointed the Chairperson of the EC so if the Commissioner is alleged to have exchanged her womanhood for a job, then who gave him the job? it certainly is John Mahama, because he appointed him.”
She said If indeed the Chairperson of the Commission has any relationship with President Mahama then it becomes an issue of conflict of interest and no one can guarantee the fairness and neutrality of the EC in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
According to Otiko Djaba, there has been a lot of hypocrisy and double standards demonstrated by some Ghanaians following Kennedy Agyapong’s comments.
She recalls that many people including influential people in the NDC have made worse comments against women in this country but those utterances never saw the kind of organised and sponsored demonstrations that has greeted Mr Agyapong’s.
“Women who are not married at the age of 30 years were described as prostitutes by a Presidential staffer and a leading member of the NDC in this country but these women groups never condemned it. Look, we must be serious in this country and stop politicising every issue," NPP women Organizer said.
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