Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah has announced plans to petition Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin over remarks allegedly made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration, demanding that he withdraw what she described as disrespectful comments.
The dispute arose during the presentation of the NPP’s petition at the Presidency on Thursday, August 6, where Nana Jantuah was designated to receive the petition on behalf of the government.
During the presentation, Afenyo-Markin questioned the decision to assign Nana Jantuah to receive the petition, arguing that it did not reflect the significance of the issues the NPP intended to raise.
According to Nana Jantuah, the Minority Leader described her as “a nobody”, a remark she said was insulting and inappropriate for a senior Member of Parliament.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM later on Thursday, she expressed deep disappointment over the comments and said she would formally petition the Speaker to seek redress.
“I will petition the Speaker for Afenyo-Markin to withdraw what he said. He used to call me ‘Senior.’ What has changed? I am so mortified. I cannot comprehend what happened,” she said.
Nana Jantuah also criticised the tone of Afenyo-Markin’s remarks, arguing that public officials should conduct themselves with respect, regardless of political differences.
“I am old enough to be your mother. Afenyo-Markin is a small boy in my eyes. Who is he to disrespect me? He should never try that again,” she added.
She maintained that her petition to Speaker Bagbin would seek a retraction of the alleged comments and a reminder of the standards of decorum expected from parliamentary leaders.
The exchange has added a new dimension to the political tensions surrounding the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” protest, which was organised to protest what the party described as selective justice, political persecution and the abuse of state institutions.
As of Thursday evening, Alexander Afenyo-Markin had not publicly responded to Nana Jantuah’s announcement of the planned petition.
