I didn’t disrespect Nana Yaa Jantuah — Afenyo-Markin clarifies

Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has debunked reports that he called Presidential Staffer, Nana Yaa Jantuah, a “nobody” when the New Patriotic Party (NPP), at the conclusion of its Democracy Under Attack protest, presented its petition to the Presidency.

He spoke on “Good Morning Ghana” on Metro TV on Monday, August 10, four days after the nationwide demonstration.

“I wasn't saying she does not qualify. I said ‘only you’. I underscored it by saying ‘with great respect’,” Afenyo-Markin said.

He acknowledged that he is “not perfect” but said he is “aware of my environment” and would not misspeak or belittle a presidential delegate.

“I don't go out to be attacking or disrespecting people,” he emphasised.

He declined to apologise after host Moro Awudu suggested an apology in light of Nana Yaa Jantuah taking offence at his remarks.

Afenyo-Markin also accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of seeking to tarnish what he described as an excellent demonstration by the main opposition NPP.

“I think they had their own spinning machinery. They wanted to spin something to take away the shine from the day [given the] peaceful demonstration, issues well articulated, massive turnout...”

He recalled that GTV had published a day before the demonstration that it was not going to take place before later correcting the report.

“They tried all manner of spinning including using GTV with some fake news. That was all part of the strategy to disorganize us [but] that failed,” he said.

He said part of the success of the demonstration was the party’s instruction to members to cooperate with the police, to which members complied.

“There was no single incident,” he underscored.

He commended the organizing committee, led by Anthony Karbo and Henry Nana Boakye, for their “industry and hard work”.

“The police didn't have anything to worry about. We finished, we dispersed.”

He said the government sought to change the day's narrative and smear the NPP.

“So, now, as a government, the only way out was now to manufacture something out of nothing. And, that, to me, is what they did,” Afenyo-Markin said.

He remained adamant about not apologising, saying he would not be distracted.

“I'm not going to respond to their agenda. I am old enough in this game to understand this game. And sometimes, when somebody wants to push you into a particular narrative you don't go there [when] you have your own issues...”

When a recording of Afenyo-Markin’s remarks during the August 6 protest was played, he emphasised how it evidenced he did not say Nana Yaa Jantuah was a “nobody”.

In the tape, he said it was “disrespectful” for the Presidency to nominate only Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the NPP’s petition after the Democracy Under Attack demonstration.

He explained that it would have been appropriate for the Chief of Staff, his deputy or “a very senior member of government” to have accompanied Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the petition.

In contrast, he pointed to his own position as Minority Leader and the presence of other high-ranking NPP leaders when they met Nana Yaa Jantuah.

He said the NPP expected a corresponding level of leadership from government to receive them and their petition.