Gender Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba has asked Ghanaians for forgiveness after days of war of words with Northern Regional Chairman New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu.
The Gender Minister and Mr Naabu were last week caught in a battle of words following a misunderstanding over the appointment of the Coordinator for the School Feeding Programme in the Region.
But the Minister told Gifty Andoh Appiah on ‘The Pulse’ on Joy News channel on MultiTV Tuesday, she reacted to Daniel Bugri Naabu’s comments against her because, she felt disrespected.
“Because I am a woman he feels he can bully me…but I apologise to all Ghanaians for what happened,” she said.
Mr Naabu is reported to have disrupted a meeting organised by Otiko Djaba on May 5, while a group of unruly supporters who accompanied him vandalised some properties.
He described the meeting held by the Gender Minister as “illegal” because he was not notified about it.
It emerged Mr Naabu’s action was in protest of the refusal of Otiko Djaba to allow him to select the caterer for the Coordinator for the feeding programme.
He went on to grant interviews to some media houses where he made some scathing accusations against the Minister. In one of the interviews, he claimed the Gender Ministry had something to do with the death of late NPP Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama in 2015. Mr Mahama died in the hospital after an acid attack.
Otiko Djaba in reaction also accused Mr Naabu of collecting money, goats, cows and other things from some people with the promise of giving them jobs at the National School Feeding Programme.
The governing NPP has said it was going to investigate the circumstances leading to the disruption of the Gender Minister’s meeting.
Acting NPP General Secretary, John Boadu told Joy FM Monday, the cause of the disagreement had nothing to do with the school feeding programme.
“It was in reference to the appointment of MMDCEs,” he said.
But Otiko Djaba said although her reaction was in defense of women who have constantly been disrespected by men in the society, she believes it was not in good taste.
“I don’t understand why he will do that…it was totally out of order [but] I have apologised to my party members and the people of Ghana for that.”
She said what happened will serve as a lesson to all Ghanaians that respect must be accorded to one another in the country, irrespective of one’s position.
“We need to respect women…if we learn to treat one another with respect we will avoid these unpleasant things,” she added.
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