Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah has rejected Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s description of her as “a nobody”, insisting that she is a senior government official and will ensure that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) petition reaches President John Mahama.
She was speaking after receiving the petition on behalf of the Presidency during the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration at Jubilee House on Thursday, August 6.
“I thank the group for bringing this petition, and I do assure you that it is going to get to the President,” she said.
Nana Yaa Jantuah described the presentation of the petition as evidence that Ghana’s democracy remains functional, noting that the NPP had been permitted to march to the seat of government and present its grievances.
“This is democracy at hand. If the NPP today has been able to come to the Flagstaff House to present their petition, then democracy is at work,” she stated.
She also responded directly to Mr Afenyo-Markin, who reportedly described her as “a nobody” during the presentation.
“I’m happy that the Honourable Minority Leader is saying that I am a nobody. But I want to assure you that I’m a senior member of government, and this petition will directly get to the President,” she said.
Nana Yaa Jantuah further reminded the NPP that Ghana is governed by laws that must be respected by everyone.
“They should also remember that in this country, there are laws. There are laws that are put together to help us regulate our lives and our being,” she added.
She noted that the demonstration coincided with the national memorial for the eight Ghanaians who died in the helicopter crash and urged the public to reflect on the significance of the day.
The NPP organised the “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration to present petitions to the three arms of government over what it describes as growing concerns about governance and the state of Ghana’s democracy.