NPP Begs For Kofi Jumah

THE ASHANTI regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has, on behalf of Hon Kofi Jumah, the Asokwa NPP Member of Parliament (MP), rendered an unqualified apology to Madam Patricia Appiagyei and women in the country who were offended by the comments made by the MP. Hon Jumah caused a stir on Wednesday when he stated on Fox FM, a Kumasi-based radio station, that Madam Appiagyei ‘used’ her body to become the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) in 2004. This comment has infuriated the public, particularly women, who have vented their spleen at the former deputy minister of Local Government and Rural Development in ex-President Kufuor’s regime. Electorates in his constituency have even threatened to embark on a demonstration to express their displeasure about their MP’s comments. But the Ashanti regional secretariat of the party has jumped to the rescue of the Asokwa MP, as the party has apologized to Madam Appiagyei in particular, and all women affected by Hon Jumah’s comments. Speaking to the Daily Guide newspaper, Samuel Pyne, the Ashanti regional secretary of the party, said “On behalf of Hon Jumah, the party expresses its deep apologies to Maa Pat as a person and any other woman offended by the comments passed by the Asokwa MP.” He entreated Madam Appiagyei and the general public, especially women, to forgive Hon Jumah for his displeasing remarks, promising that such a thing would not occur again. The regional secretary explained that the party did not authorize Hon Jumah to make such derogatory remarks, stressing that the party did not support the MP’s comments. Mr. Pyne emphasized that judging from the massive support the party had enjoyed from women since it was formed in 1992, there was no way the party could authorize its members to insult women. He entreated women in the country, particularly supporters of NPP, not to allow opponents of the party to take undue advantage of the development and turn them against the party.