The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has criticised the Presidency for assigning Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah to receive the party’s petition during its “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration, describing the move as disrespectful.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Boakye questioned why President John Dramani Mahama did not assign a more senior government official to receive the petition on behalf of the Presidency.
“Why should President Mahama send Nana Yaa Jantuah, a third-tier presidential staffer, to receive the NPP’s demonstration petition? It is a sign of disrespect toward the NPP,” he said.
According to him, the stature of the demonstration and the seniority of the officials who participated warranted the presence of a higher-ranking representative from the Presidency.
He noted that the protest was attended by the Minority Leader, former ministers and national executives of the NPP, arguing that the government failed to accord the event the respect it deserved.
“We had high-level party people among the protesters, former ministers, party national executives and the Minority Leader. You bring a presidential staffer to receive the petition. That didn’t show respect,” he said.
Mr Boakye compared the situation with previous demonstrations, stating that the Deputy Chief of Staff had received petitions presented by the NPP’s youth wing.
“We have gone on several demonstrations. The first one, they brought the Deputy Chief of Staff to receive the petition, and that was even by the youth wing. Then you look at this protest and the leaders involved, and you bring a presidential staffer to receive the petition,” he said.
He disclosed that, in response, the party asked its Deputy National Youth Organiser, Sandra Sarkodie, to hand over the petition to Nana Yaa Jantuah.
Mr Boakye alleged that the Presidency sought to downplay the significance of the demonstration and expressed disappointment in President Mahama over the decision.
“It is the President I’m disappointed in. If it was a delegation and she was part of it, that would have been okay. This is above her. She should have said no,” he added.
The NPP staged the “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration on Thursday, August 6, to present petitions to the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary over concerns it says relate to governance, the rule of law and the state of Ghana’s democracy.
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