A gender advocacy group has jumped to the defense of broadcast journalist Nana Aba Anamuah following attacks on her by the NPP.
The Concern Women Ghana (CEWG) has challenged “women with strong voices” to stand up and condemn the NPP’ director in the UK Nana Ansah Oborfuor for his “highly disrespectful” comments against the journalist.
It said it is a mark of “irresponsibility” on the side of member of the ruling party to pour his frustration on the ace broadcaster, who had challenged the president to tell what he has done.
The multiple award-winning broadcaster had criticised both the ruling NPP and opposition NDC, urging the president,during his tour to the Volta Region, to tell the good people of the Region what he has done and is doing to better their lives than preach to them the failures of his predecessor John Dramani Mahama.
But her statement triggered insults from the NPP’s Director of Communications, UK, Nana Ansah Oborfuor, describing her a “useless and hopeless Mahama photoshop girl” and telling her to “go get married to be useful.”
In a statement signed by its Convener Annette Enyo, the CWG said the NPP has appointed an “unprofessional” person to manage it’s communication in the UK.
“We find his language abusive, unacceptable, unprofessional and highly disrespectful to unmarried women in our society,” the statement read.
The group also condemned what it calls an “emerging culture of unsavory attacks on women who express their views” in the Nana Akufo Addo administration.
Read the full statement below
8th November, 2019
CONCERNED WOMEN, GHANA
ATTACK ON NANA ABA ANAMOAH, AN ACT OF GROSS IRRESPONSIBILITY
……………………………………………………………
Ghanaians woke up to a rather unfortunate incident in the past days where a female journalist of GHONE, Nana Aba Anamoah was verbally maimed by some individuals over her passionate appeal to the President, HE Akuffo Addo during his tour to the Volta Region, to tell the good people of the Region what he has done and is doing to better their lives than preach to them the failures of his predecessor John Dramani Mahama.
Her comments attracted a very unsavory reaction from one Nana Ansah Oborfuor, Director of Communications, NPP UK. We believe this is a violation of her fundamental right afforded her by the constitution of our country.
What we as Concerned Women have taken serious is the response that the gentleman had given the lady by going to that level of telling her to go get married to be useful. We find his language abusive, unacceptable, unprofessional and highly disrespectful to unmarried women in our society.
We condemn his comments and we have sent a petition (pending response) to the Gender Minister to pull the gentleman by the hair and cause him to apologise to the lady journalist and women in Ghana including his wife, his mother and his sister(s).
It is common knowledge that to express ones view on economic matters is a “do or die” affair for the woman.
The emerging culture of unsavory attacks on women who express their views, is gradually gaining root in our beloved country Ghana and this demands a backbreaking efforts from Government, Civil Society Organisations, NGOs, State Institutions and individuals to completely annihilate this culture.
We expect women with strong voices like The First Lady Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Second Lady Mrs. Samira Bawumia, Mrs. Ursula Ekufful and the Attorney General Madam Gloria Akuffo especially to condemn Nana Ansah Oborfuor’s comments as young women look up to them to jump in their defence when subjected to such high uncouth attacks.
We believe the Gender Minister will demonstrate a two-way leadership quality regarding this development, to face-lift and protect the liberty of women in this country.
We call on women groups, Human rights advocacy groups, NCOs, NGOs, etcetera to condemn match treatment on our women.
We challenge the press to maintain vigilance and take actions to prevent bullying of such nature.
We have high hopes that this release will inspire an intervention from top government officials including our President.
The gentleman should have known better; there are many unmarried women in the current administration who are useful and making impact. Marriage does not determine a woman’s usefulness.
We stand with our sister Nana Aba Anamoah.
Regards!
Convener
Annette Enyo
(+233(0)200951910)
Cc:
GJA
Civil Society Organisations
NGOs