NDC MPs goes berserk after Afenyo-Markin mocked Prof Opoku-Agyemang’s age

When Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin attacked Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), it infuriated the Minority bench and raised tensions in Parliament.

Opoku-Agyemang’s performance as minister of education was attacked by Afenyo-Markin during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussion on March 11.

In addition, he brought up her age (she is seventy-one), claiming that choosing her to be her running partner was a lack of vision that may cause a leadership problem in the event that the NDC wins the 2024 elections.

It is still the same NDC. It’s none other than John Mahama. Perish the notion, Mr. Speaker—he only has four years left under the constitution—should he ever be given the chance.

CHECK ALSO: Watch Afenyo-Markin’s attack on Prof Opoku-Agyemang that preceded the suspension of sitting

“There would be no sense of urgency in him because he has nothing to lose. Even if you look at his choice of running mate, he could not get somebody that one could say that they are planning for the future.

“The person is over 70 years old, they have no succession plan. From day one, their government will be in crisis. They went to pick the very old person who could not perform at the Education Ministry,” he submitted triggering initial protest from the Deputy Minority Chief Whip.

Afenyo-Marking stuck on the same course after taking a second bite of the cherry:
“As I submitted earlier, if you even look at how they paraded their leadership, clearly they have not put in place a visionary leadership for the country’s long-term future.

“The flagbearer, constitutionally has just one term. Should that happen, the flagbearer has chosen a running mate, Mr. Speaker. Under normal circumstances, they should have given us a running mate who can offer a future to Ghana.

“Like we have given a flagbearer who represents the future of Ghana. You have brought a running mate who retired from UCC as VC and came to the Ministry of Education to perform abysmally. The E-blocks she could not complete them. She did only 29. Today, you say the running mate should be the future of this country,” he said.

Members of the NDC were incensed by the comments and asked that Afenyo-Markin recant and apologize right away. The Minority caucus smashed tables in protest, arguing that it was inappropriate to criticize Opoku-Agyemang’s age given the age of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, was compelled to halt proceedings for an hour due to the mounting tension.

Ketu South MP Dzifa Gomashie referred to Afenyo-Markin’s remarks outside the chamber as “despicable,” highlighting Opoku-Agyemang’s achievements and demanding an apology from the NPP hierarchy.

When they were back in session, Afenyo-Markin withdrew his comments, which allowed the discussion of the State of the Nation Address to continue.

Watch excerpts of the proceedings below:

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