Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is facing strong criticism following comments he made on the floor of Parliament about the nomination of Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah as Deputy Minister for Health.
During a debate in the House, Afenyo-Markin questioned why Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah, Member of Parliament for Essikado Ketan, was chosen over other female MPs, including Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
His remarks have sparked outrage, with many describing them as dismissive, disrespectful, and undermining women’s contributions in Parliament.
Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah, who was present in the chamber during the exchange, firmly objected to the Minority Leader’s comments, labelling them as offensive and unjustified.
She called on the Speaker of Parliament to have the remarks struck from the official records, insisting she had not provoked the statements.
Raising her concern before the House, Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah said, “Mr. Speaker, I was simply waiting to catch your eye when I was attacked. It is already difficult for women in this House, as we make up only 14%. These comments make it even harder for us to stand and speak.”
She further decried the culture of veiled threats and passive-aggressive behaviour towards female MPs, warning that such attitudes only deepen the challenges women face in contributing to national discourse.
Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah emphasized that she felt personally targeted and called for Parliament to foster a more respectful and inclusive environment where female MPs can participate without fear of intimidation or prejudice.
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