The Deputy Women’s Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abigail Elorm Mensah, has criticised Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin for referring to Senior Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah as “a nobody” during the presentation of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) petition at the Presidency.

Describing the remarks as “deeply offensive and sexist,” Ms Mensah said they were not only disrespectful to Nana Yaa Jantuah but also insulting to women serving in leadership positions across Ghana.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, August 7, she argued that the comments reflected a lack of appreciation for the role women continue to play in governance and public service.

According to her, questioning Nana Yaa Jantuah’s suitability to receive the petition undermined the principles of merit, professionalism and gender 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 stated.

Ms Mensah further expressed concern that the incident raised broader questions about the treatment of women within the New Patriotic Party.

“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 said.

She called on Mr Afenyo-Markin to render an immediate and unqualified apology to Nana Yaa Jantuah and Ghanaian women, while urging the NPP leadership to publicly dissociate itself from what she described as discriminatory and demeaning remarks.

The comments follow an exchange during the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration on Thursday, August 6, when Nana Yaa Jantuah was assigned to receive the party’s petition on behalf of the Presidency.

During the presentation, Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned the government’s decision to delegate the Senior Presidential Staffer to receive the petition, arguing that it did not reflect the significance of the concerns raised by the opposition party.