NDC blasts Afenyo-Markin’s ‘nobody’ remark on Nana Yaa Jantuah, demands for apology

The Deputy Women’s Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abigail Elorm Mensah, has condemned Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s description of Presidential staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah as a “nobody” following the presentation of a petition at the Presidency during the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.

She described the comment as “deeply offensive and sexist,” arguing that it was disrespectful not only to Nana Yaa Jantuah, a senior government official, but also to women who continue to serve in leadership positions across the country.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, August 7, the NDC Deputy Women’s Organiser said the remarks reflected a disregard for the contributions of women in governance and public service.

She argued that questioning Nana Yaa Jantuah’s suitability to receive a petition because of her gender was unacceptable and undermined the principles of professionalism, competence and equality.

“Nana Yaa Jantuah holds a legitimate and respected role at the Presidency. To dismiss her on the basis of gender is to undermine the principles of merit, professionalism, and equality that our nation must uphold,” she said.

She further raised concerns about what she described as a broader attitude towards women in leadership within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), calling on the party’s leadership to clarify its stance on gender equality.

“These comments cannot be viewed in isolation. They raise serious concerns about how women are regarded within the NPP and whether there is genuine respect for women in leadership within their ranks,” she stated.

She called on Afenyo-Markin to issue an immediate and unreserved apology to Nana Yaa Jantuah and all Ghanaian women over the comments.

She also urged the NPP leadership to distance itself from what she described as discriminatory and demeaning remarks.

The controversy follows an exchange during the presentation of the NPP’s petition at the Presidency on Thursday, August 6, where she was assigned to receive the document on behalf of the government.

During the event, Afenyo-Markin questioned the government’s decision to delegate Nana Jantuah to receive the petition, arguing that it did not reflect the importance of the issues the NPP sought to raise.