‘Silly MP’ comment: When we stand up for ourselves, we are called disrespectful — Joyce Bawah
Joyce Bawah Mogtari, a Senior Presidential Advisor and Special Aide to President John Dramani Mahama, has weighed in on the confrontation between the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Emeafa Hardcastle, and the MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
According to the presidential advisor, women who stand up for themselves in the face of provocation are often labeled as disrespectful.
“Let me say without any fear of equivocation that, more often than not, when we stand up for ourselves, we are called disrespectful!” she wrote in a social media post on Wednesday, January 29.
Background:
In a viral video, Emeafa Hardcastle, who was present to support the vetting of Defence Minister-designate Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, is heard repeatedly describing the Minority in Parliament as a “micro minority,” a label the group has strongly opposed.
This angered the Minority Chief Whip, who vowed to confront Hardcastle over her remarks.
In response, Hardcastle is heard saying, “You are threatening me that you will take me on because you are who? My friend, don’t bring yourself. What do you mean you are taking me on? What does that phrase mean? Don’t bring yourself. I don’t have time for this. You think you can bully me here?”
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Annoh-Dompreh urged the Speaker to take action on the matter once the Privileges Committee is formed.
“For once, let’s look into the faces of our fellow compatriots and tell them that we also demand respect in this country. The executive is respected, the judiciary is respected. Parliament cannot be treated anyhow. And as a member of this institution, I humbly request that you make the appropriate consequential orders to ensure that we get to the bottom of this matter,” he said.
Annoh-Dompreh stated that he felt abused by the verbal attacks and that the incident had tarnished his reputation as a Member of Parliament.
“I felt abused, with the greatest respect. I felt very abused, and right then and there, I thought, how can a man be killed in his own backyard? Even if there should be any crucifixion, the crucifixion should not be done in my own house,” he said.
“I feel my reputation is lowered by these attacks, and the video—thankfully, there were good people around who recorded it—is all over. Traditional media houses are showing the video, and don’t forget, this is not about me; it’s about an institution called Parliament,” he added.