Minister for parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has downplayed the capabilities of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to effectively run Ghana as president in the event that she becomes vice president her boss John Mahama is dead.
According to him, the nomination of the former Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Cape Coast, as the running mate to candidate John Mahama in the impending 2020 elections would not make any impact.
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To him, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could have gone for a truly qualified woman in the party who has enough political experience to take up the role of the running mate to the former President.
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Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Suame constituency made these remarks to journalists in Parliament on Tuesday July 7, 2020.
The Majority Leader doubted if the former Education Minister could hold the mantle as president should the position become vacant through death after the Mahama and Opoku-Agyemang ticket emerges winners in the election.
“When I first heard, I thought he was going to settle on Dr Duffuor or Nii Moi because they are economists and finance experts of considerable standing, so either of them could have done it. If he wanted a woman, I thought that we have some women of some demonstrable competence who have risen through this house to establish themselves. One such person could be Hanna Tetteh who has been a member of this House, Foreign Affairs Minister and some other areas, so she has learnt the rules.
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“Another person is the former Attorney General, solid person. If he wanted women, even the previous Attorney General; even though she has some skeletons because of the Woyome issue, but you ask yourself what value is this woman going to add to that ticket. Calm woman; a woman of poise and balance.
”She speaks good English but is it good enough to satisfy the ticket? Let’s not forget; perish the thought, I’m not wishing that, but let’s assume that John becomes the President and the next day he is no longer, is this woman capable of being described as the President of the republic? and that has nothing to do with her person. I’m talking about the quality in governance that could affect and effect this country, is she that person? I don’t think so at all,” Mr Kyei Mensah opined.
In a related development, Minister for Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said that though she welcomes the selection of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the NDC’s Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2020 elections, gender advocates cannot vouch for her contribution to the cause of women empowerment in the country.
She said many women across the political divide have for years fought tirelessly for women and children’s rights in this country and Prof. Opoku-Agyemang is not one of them.
“You can easily mention former First Lady of the Republic, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, and some others in the NDC as shinning examples of female politicians who have contributed immensely to the advancement of women empowerment and inclusion in Ghana,” she contended.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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