The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s description of Presidential staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah as a “nobody” during the presentation of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) petition at the Presidency.
NDC Deputy Women’s Organiser Abigail Elorm Mensah described the remark as “deeply offensive and sexist,” arguing that it was disrespectful to Nana Yaa Jantuah and demeaning to women serving in leadership and public positions.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, August 7, Mensah said Nana Yaa Jantuah holds a legitimate and respected position at the Presidency and should not be disrespected because of her gender or the role she was assigned to perform.
“Nana Yaa Jantuah holds a legitimate and respected role at the Presidency. To dismiss her on the basis of gender is to undermine the principles of merit, professionalism, and equality that our nation must uphold,” she said.
She further accused Afenyo-Markin’s comments of reflecting a broader disregard for women in leadership and called on the NPP to clarify its position on gender equality.
“These comments cannot be viewed in isolation. They raise serious concerns about how women are regarded within the NPP and whether there is genuine respect for women in leadership within their ranks,” she stated.
Mensah called on Afenyo-Markin to issue an immediate and unreserved apology to Nana Yaa Jantuah and Ghanaian women, while urging the NPP leadership to distance itself from what she described as discriminatory and demeaning comments.
The controversy follows an exchange during the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration on Thursday, August 6, when Nana Yaa Jantuah was assigned to receive the party’s petition on behalf of the government.
Afenyo-Markin questioned the decision to delegate Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the petition, arguing that the person assigned to receive it did not reflect the importance of the issues the NPP had raised.
