The Upper East Regional Communications Bureau of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding the immediate removal of the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, over his comments on the 24-hour economy proposal.
According to the NDC, the Minister in his remarks reduced women to sex objects, hence the call.
Mr. Yakubu, during the annual Tenglebgre festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of the Sekote community in the Nabdam district, argued that former President John Mahama’s proposed 24-hour economy, if implemented, would deny men the opportunity to have sex with their wives at night.
“…This 24-hour economy, my brothers; when we work in our farms and we are tired, we have to sleep with our wives. We have to be with our wives. In the night, you want us to go and farm, and then people will come and take our wives away? Naa, chairman, we have to be careful with this 24-hour thing,” the regional minister stated.
Reacting to the regional minister’s remarks, the NDC in the Upper East Region said the utterances of the minister not only showed his lack of understanding of the 24-hour economy, but the statement was offensive and inappropriate.
The Upper East Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, during a press conference held at the party’s regional office in Zuarungu, accused the minister of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and undermining the dignity of women in the region and the country at large.
“This portrayal of our wives, mothers, and women of this region as mere sex objects is deemed highly reprehensible and an attack on womanhood. The NDC condemns this clear insult and disparaging remarks on our well-cultured women and discerning people of the region at large. Comrades, there is no gainsaying that John Mahama’s 24-hour economy proposal is causing a lot of confusion and uneasiness in the NPP as every effort at watering down the proposal keeps exposing their shallowness and contradictory positions,” Mr. Abdallah indicated.
The NDC Upper East Regional Communications Bureau expressed disappointment and called for an immediate apology and the removal of Stephen Yakubu as the Upper East Regional Minister.
“We, therefore, unequivocally condemn the backward and stereotypical attack and attempt by the dishonourable Stephen Yakubu and the NPP to portray and present the women of this region as mere sex objects. We, thus, demand an immediate retraction and apology from Mr. Yakubu within 48 hours. We want to call on His Excellency President Akufo-Addo to immediately fire the honourable regional from office as the Upper East Regional minister. If the minister fails to apologize for his attack on womanhood, “we will prompt civil actions, including massive demonstrations against him to emphasize our demand for respect and equality for all,” the NDC added.