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Call Wontumi to Order – Feminist CSOs calls out NPP attacks on Prof. Naana Jane

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The Alliance of Feminist Civil Society Organisations (AFCSOs) has condemned derogatory remarks against Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, by the Ashanti Regional Chairmanof the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi.

Chairman Wontumi, who spoke on one of his radio stations in the Northen region suggested the 2024 Running Mate of the NDC was secretly married to Mr. Mahama and that she originated from the Northern Region, not the Central Region.

The Feminist CSOs have condemned the unsavoury attack have issued a strongly worded statement calling on leadership of the NPP to bring Chairman Wontumi to book.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Alimatu Issahak, the Alliance expressed “great concern” Wontumi’s comments describing them “completely unacceptable”.

It said, attacking the personality of Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, a former Minister of Education and the first female Vice Chancelor of the University of Cape Coast, is simply indicative of backward views and stereotypes against women, particularly those aspiring to high political leadership.

The statement also expressed surprise at the silence by the NPP leadership since the unfortunate comment was made.

Praising Prof. Opoku-Agyemang for demonstrating that leadership was about competence and the ability to serve one’s nation with the utmost integrity, the Alliance described her as a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant, and a role model.

Read the full statement below:

NPP LEADERSHIP: CALL CHAIRMAN WUNTUMI’S TO ORDER – DISRESPECTFUL COMMENTS AGAINST PROF. JANE NAANA OPOKU – AGYEMANG COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE
The Alliance of Feminist CSOs has noted with a great concern the utterance made by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of NPP Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wuntumi) against Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on her marital status and region of origin completely unacceptable and therefore call on the party’s leadership to call him to order with immediate effect.
These unacceptable comments seem to be coming from members who hold key leadership positions in the party’s hierarchy.
First it was the Majority leader and now no other person than the party’s Ashanti regional chairman. It appears to us that a deliberate orchestrated attempt to discredit the personality of the Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is being executed. Since Chairman himself is a discredited individual occupying such an important position we have nothing to tell him directly except to fall on the leadership of the NPP to call him to order.
These comments by chairman Wuntumi not only unfortunate but condemnable and goes further to confirm his backwardness and stereotype against women especially aspiring greater heights in political leadership. It appears that some functionaries within the NPP such as chairman Wuntumi do not want to run an issue-based campaign even with an accomplished female Professor who remains one of Ghana’s longest public servants with unblemished reputation and enviable track record as a public servant.
While the vile attacks against the female running mate of the NDC continues, so far the NPP leadership have said nothing about the conduct of these members. Are they in support of the conduct to deliberately run down her personality or they want to have an issue based campaign? We caution them that these attacks if not stopped will be met with an equal measure from the Alliance of Feminist CSOs and its members across the country.
Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has shown so far that leadership is about no other but competence and ones ability to deliver service to ones nation with utmost integrity. A woman described as a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant and a role model. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is known by many as a woman who embraces all regardless of ones background. Her nomination which she has earned barely on merit further serves as an inspiration to lots of Ghanaian young women. Therefore any attempt to tarnish her image will not wash.
It is completely unacceptable that a whole professor of such great accomplishment who has served Ghana with utmost dedication and commitment in her entire adult life will be met with such baseless and demeaning attacks in a public space in her quest to further serve Ghana in a bigger capacity. A comment about the professor’s marital status and regional origin by chairman Wuntumi is baseless and has no merit on her competence and her impactful track record. This is not the first time such disrespectful comment is coming from chairman Wuntumi he made similar comment against the Professor on 10th July, 2020 and up till now no apology has been rendered to the Professor. This simply cannot be the way to go in 21st century politics with such backwardness.
We therefore call on the party leadership to call Chairman Wuntumi to order and advise party members to desist from making such unguided comments in the future.
We also call on all well meaning Ghanaians to disregard his comments and treat it with all the contempt that it deserves.

Yours faithfully
Alimatu Issahak
Executive Director

News, Politics

Disgraceful! – “Retract and Apologize’ NDC female MPs descend on Wontumi for attacking Prof. Naana Jane

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Female Members of Parliament in the Minority Caucus have condemned the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Benard Antwi Boasiako, alias Wontumi for what they describe as an insult to womanhood, disgraceful comments he recently made against Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang.

Chairman Wontumi, in a recent radio interview, alleged that former President and NDC’s 2024 Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama had an affair with Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and that what has informed her choice as his Running Mate.
He also alleged that Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang is not from Cape Coast, as it’s widely known.

To the female NDC MPs, it is disgraceful for a woman of such repute and achievements to her credit, to be denigrated by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP.

In a strongly worded statement in reaction, Deputy Minority Whip and Vice Chair of the Female MPs Caucus, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe said the attack by Benard Antwi Boasiako, alias Wontumi, is a clear indication of a lack of respect for women, which should not be countenanced in Ghana’s growing democracy.

The Vice Chair of the Female NDC MPs Caucus, served notice they will advise themselves if ‘Chairman Wontumi’ fails to apologize to Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang and all women in Ghana.

Read Their Statement Below

PRESS STATEMENT
CONDEMNATION OF VILE COMMENTS AGAINST PROFESSOR JANE NAANA OPOKU AGYEMANG

As female legislators of the minority caucus of parliament, we are compelled to express our utmost condemnation of the recent derogatory remarks made by the Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, against Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, the Vice-Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

It is deeply distressing and unacceptable that in this day and age, a woman of Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang’s stature and accomplishments would be subjected to such baseless and demeaning attacks on her character and appearance. Such comments not only reflect a profound lack of respect for women in leadership positions but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and discrimination.
The recent allegations made by Chairman Wontumi regarding Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang’s marital status and regional origins are equally reprehensible and without merit. These unfounded accusations only serve to further undermine her credibility and integrity as a politician and academic.
The same Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako made a similar derogatory and wicked statement against the good professor on July 10, 2020.
This is unacceptable, and as women in leadership, we condemn these disparaging comments from Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi).

The recent derogatory remarks made by the regional chairman are utterly unacceptable and disgraceful. Such behavior undermines the integrity of political discourse and reflects poorly on both chairman Wontumi and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Instead of engaging in petty insults, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should rather prioritize addressing the collapsing economy and delivering on their promises to the Ghanaian people. It is time for chairman Wontumi, the New Patriotic Party, and the government to redirect their efforts towards constructive actions that benefit all Ghanaians rather than resorting to divisive rhetoric. Ghanaians deserve leaders who uphold dignity and focus on meaningful progress for the nation.
As representatives of the people and advocates for gender equality, it is imperative that we stand united in denouncing such reprehensible behavior and demand strict accountability from those who perpetrate it. We call upon Chairman Wontumi and all other individuals who engage in such deplorable conduct to publicly apologize to Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang and refrain from making any further derogatory remarks.

Notice is hereby given that Chairman Wontumi should apologize to Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang and apologize to all women in Ghana, or we will advise ourselves. We are committed to promoting a culture of respect, dignity, and equality for all individuals, regardless of their gender, background, or ethnic affiliation.
Sincerely,
Hon. Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe
(Dep. Minority Whip, Vice Chair of the Female MPs Caucus & MP, Ada)