Social advocacy group, Patriotic Voices, has described a recent comment by General Secretary of the opposition NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, against First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu (Joe Wise), as reckless and “evil”.
According to the pressure group, Mr Asiedu Nketia’s call for the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament to be slapped if he flouts his mandate in Parliament was the height of recklessness.
Speaking to NDC youths in the Ashanti Region on Saturday, February 5, 2022, Mr Asiedu Nketia suggested that if need be, Deputy Speakers must be compelled through every means – even by physical assault – to ensure they execute their mandate while sitting in for Speaker Alban Bagbin.
“So if a Speaker or the Deputy Speaker says he will be a referee as well as be the one to kick the ball for a penalty, and also blow the whistle that a goal has been scored – if a slap will ensure he does not do that, slap him so that he comes back to his senses,” Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said.
Many have condemned the comment.
Adding their voice to the condemnation, Patriotic Voices also said the status of Mr Asiedu Nketia in the political sphere of Ghana makes his comment grossly unacceptable.
“We believe the General Secretary is a member of the Parliamentary Service Board. People who are nominated to this board are people of high integrity and above reproach.
“A statement like this should be coming from people lower down the ladder and not from highly valued people like Asiedu Nketiah. The NDC has not distanced itself from the utterances, meaning they are in support. This makes it even more unfortunate,” the group’s Founder, Akwasi Sarpong, said in a statement.
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The group said it is also unpardonable that the leadership of the NDC has not distanced itself from the unsavoury comments ny its General Secretary.
Read the full statement by the Patriotic Voices below.
PATRIOTIC VOICES CONDEMNS THE EVIL STATEMENT BY GENERAL SECRETARY OF NDC, MR. ASIEDU NKETIAH
Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the General Secretary of the NDC, during a meeting with the NDC faithfuls in the Ashanti Region instigated that the Minority in Parliament should give the Deputy Speaker of Parliament slaps if he does something they the Minority don't like. It is unfortunate such a statement is coming from the Chief Scribe of the largest Opposition party in the country.
We believe the General Secretary is a member of the Parliamentary Service Board. People who are nominated to this board are people of high integrity and above reproach. A statement like this should be coming from people lower down the ladder and not from highly valued people like Asiedu Nketiah. The NDC has not distanced itself from the utterances, meaning they are in support. This makes it even more unfortunate. Their Chairman, Ofosu Ampofo, also lended his voice to this evil advocacy. This shows the character of the NDC. Their Presidential Hopeful even at one time admitted that they came from a revolutionary background and if it came to unleashing violence they were streets ahead of any party in the country.
It is strange that no identifiable bodies have commented, much less condemned, this evil statement that can trigger chaos and disunity in the country. We of the Patriotic Voices condemn this statement in no uncertain terms. It is evil, divisive and doesn't forge national unity for national development and prosperity.
Come again, Asiedu Nketiah. Come again, NDC. We need peace to develop the country, not chaos and anarchy.
God bless our Homeland Ghana and make her great and strong.
Thanks to you all.
SIGN.................
AKWASI SARPONG
FOUNDER PATRIOTIC VOICES
ABUBAKARI YAKUBU
PRO FOR PATRIOTIC VOICES