Member of Parliament for Tano North, Ms Freda Prempeh, has described the Minority in Parliament as ‘heartless’ lawmakers. Her description of the ND
Member of Parliament for Tano North, Ms Freda Prempeh, has described the Minority in Parliament as ‘heartless’ lawmakers.
Her description of the NDC MPs as such, according to Ms Prempeh, is based on the “bloody widow” inscription on placards they (Minority) displayed during the swearing in of Lydia Alhassan, the newly-elected MP for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in Parliament on Tuesday, February 5, 2019.
To the NPP MP, the action by the Minority, clearly shows how ‘heartless’ they are towards women.
“I am really sad today. Why would they do that to a widow with five kids? What wrong has she committed?” she questioned on Asempa FM’s “Ekosii Sen”.
Ms Freda Prempeh, however, called on all gender advocates and feminists, especially those in the august House, to openly condemn the conduct of the minority who also walked out during the swearing in of the newly-elected MP.
“I condemned it and I want all women to do as such. No matter what the situation is, no woman should be treated in such a way. What they did is just below the belt. They have to apologize to women and all widows in this country,” she said.
Sam George’s justification
In a related development, the NDC MP for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel George Nettey has justified the Minority’s display of “bloody widow” placards.
Speaking on the same platform, Sam George described his side’s action as “normal parliamentary practice”, and to further buttress his point, alluded to instances where even President Akufo-Addo and late President Atta Mills, suffered similar hecklings while delivering the State of the Nation address.
“….it is a fact that the Ayawaso West Wuogon polls was a bloody bye-election…our description was apt….i will urge Lydia Alhassan to take it in good faith…since this is a normal parliamentary practice,” he said.
Walk-out
Hon Lydia Seyram Alhassan, was sworn into Parliament Tuesday, by taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Member of Parliament administered by the First Deputy Speaker, Hon Joseph Osei Owusu.
Moments before her swearing-in, however, the Minority in Parliament staged a walkout of Parliament in protest against what they (the Minority) described as state-sponsored violence during the by-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon.
By-Election Result
Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan replaced her husband as the Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency after winning the by-election held on Thursday, 31st January 2019 in Accra.
Madam Alhassan, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, was the second wife of the late MP Mr Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko.
She polled 68.80 per cent of the valid votes cast.
Her closest challenger, Mr Kwasi Delali Brempong of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) polled 30.52 per cent while Mr William Kofi Dowokpor of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and Mr Clement Boadi of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) polled 0.58 and 0.10 per cent respectively.
Shooting Incident
The conduct of the polls was marred by a shooting incident at the residence of one of the aspirants, Mr Brempong; which resulted in injuries to 18 persons and an assault on an observer at one of the polling stations.
The Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service have commenced investigations into the shooting incident.
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