Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the appointment of Prof Jane Naana Opoku Ayemang has come to sanitise the clutter in Ghana’s politics.
The National Democratic Congress, on Monday, July 6th confirmed former Minister of Education and former Vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as John Mahama’s running mate for the December 2020 elections.
Following the announcement of Prof Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate for John Dramani Mahama on the ticket of the NDC, the (NPP) yesterday held a press conference raising several allegations against her, claiming that her candidature is not appropriate.
The (NPP) has described the appointment of Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Ayemang as an indication that Mr Mahama does not take the Ghanaian electorate seriously.
However, Mr Ablakwa, a former deputy Minister for Education who served with Prof Opoku-Agyemang indicated that she has over the years proven to be competent. According to him, the NPP is only being mischievous.
“We don’t need the NPP and no wonder all over social media we have seen all kinds of commentary that the NPP is struggling to look for mud to throw at her” he added.
Mr Ablakwa is of the view that Prof Opoku-Agyemang has come to sanitize the nature of politics in Ghana because she believes in the politics of ideas, not of insults and name-calling, adding that “she wouldn’t change but she will make her point forcefully”
Between February 2013 and January 2017, she served as the Education Minister of Ghana.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the NPP has since her appointment as minister of education has lashed out several untoward comments at her but she never retaliated but rather allowed her records to speak for her.
“When she left the Ministry, her successor has had some harsh things to say about her but she’s held it her stride. She did not want to retaliate to throw mud at anybody she believes in the politics of decency and that’s why people say we would not even have registered but because of her. And that’s the kind of people we want to come into politics so that we sanitise our politics and we will have a politics of ideas where people of substance, of caliber are those who are in charge of the decision-making body”
The NPP further allege that Prof Opoku Agyemang, during her tenure in office as the Minister for Education did not live up to expectations.
Director of communications of the NPP, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, addressing the media said, said she meted out harsh treatment against teachers in the country.
“Teachers were the hardest hit when Naana Opoku Agyemang was at the helm of affairs at the Education Ministry. Apart from their transportation allowances not being paid, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang also introduced the practice of teachers working for two years without being paid and being restricted to being paid only three months back pay, no matter how long they had worked.”
Mr. Ablakwa, reacting to these claims indicated that NPP is only being mischievous. For him, these claims are totally erroneous.
Source: Victoria Adonu/ATLFMNEWS
