A Deputy National Communications Officer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jacob Atule Adongo, is calling for the immediate resignation of the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and aspiring NDC flagbearer, Alban Bagbin.
[contextly_sidebar id=”GoeZgL6TAASPaidMSY64vG1CnrREdNZm”]According to him, Bagbin’s recent statements on the causes of the party’s historic defeat in the 2016 elections were reprehensible and smacked of discrimination.
Bagbin in his reflections, while speaking to delegates in the Volta Region noted that the appointment of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as a Deputy Education Minister in-charge-of Tertiary as one of such appointments.
“We had very good material in our last government, but the placement was wrong. Look at my son-in-law Ablakwa; brilliant, handsome young man, but he had problems before he got his certificate at Legon. You recall they almost rusticated him.”
“After he’s done national service in Parliament and joined politics, he was made a deputy Minister for Education in Charge of Tertiary. [So for] the lecturers, what are you telling them? Some of these decisions affected us a lot,” Mr. Bagbin said.
He also told the delegates that Mahama’s appointment of Edward Omane Boamah and Dr. Henry Seidu Danaa as Minister for Communications and Minister for Chieftaincy respectively also contributed to the party’s defeat because the former was a stammerer and couldn’t communicate effectively while the later was visually impaired, and chiefs didn’t want to associate with him because culturally he was considered not to be ‘whole’.
But Jacob Atule Adongo who is visually impaired said on Eyewitness News on Wednesday that Alban Bagbin’s comment is disappointing and he must be caused to apologize to persons with disability.
He added that Mr. Bagbin must be forced to leave Parliament.
“He [Alban Bagin] has disappointed me and has made comments that I think must lead him to resign as an MP and deputy speaker and apologize to all persons with disability.”
Adongo said he would lead a campaign to ensure that Bagbin is punished for the comments which he believes may affect his chances of winning the Deputy Communications Officer position.
“You are telling them [delegates] that persons with physical challenges are not competent. I am going to lead a crusade, and call all persons with disability to lead that crusade to force this man out of Parliament. He must leave Parliament; he must resign as deputy speaker of parliament and Parliament as an institution must cause him to be impeached. He has made some comments to hurt all persons with disability in this country, and nobody is talking about it. I think it is unfortunate, condemnable and in bad taste. I think the NDC will call him to order and cause him to at least apologize,” he said.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citinewsroom.com/Ghana