The National Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress has described as sexist and misogynistic, various comments made by the Director of Communications for the governing NPP, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, and Majority Leader Osei Kyei Bonsu over the selection of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate of party flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

 “It is quite jarring and so discouraging to people, especially women, to see how such a high-flying woman is attacked with such venom by politicians who could have been her students, and indeed some were.

It is very sad to see a Political party in the 21st century deeply rooted in the 16th century’s primitive views on women,” Sammy Gyamfi said.

During a press conference in Accra, Mr. Buabeng Asamoah congratulated Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang but added that her performance while holding various offices is enough proof of her being unfit for the job.

According to him, “the choice of Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman by Mr John Dramani Mahama is a clear indication Mahama's contempt for the Ghanaian electorate.  

“But then as our own Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has famously said, it does not matter who the running mate is, if the main man himself is indecisive and incompetent, we still have a problem. It is our view that after having looked so long and wide, the NDC still has a problem.”

But addressing the press today, July 8, 2020, Sammy Gyamfi refuted the claims made against the former UCC Vice-chancellor.

Describing these claims and allegations by the NPP and its leaders as mere fabrications, Mr. Gyamfi said the aim of the governing NPP was to tarnish the reputation of the Professor who stands as a role model for women and girls across the country and beyond.

Listing some of her alleged shortfalls, which includes the cancellation of the Teacher Trainee allowance and the introduction of the three (3) months salary payment for newly recruited teachers, the NDC's Communication Officer said, they were all decisions made by government and not the Education sector or its minister.

“Firstly, the claim that Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang canceled Teacher Trainee Allowance is false. The decision to replace Teacher Trainee allowance with student loan was a cabinet decision and not a ministerial decision.

Secondly, the claim that Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang introduced the three (3) months salary payment for newly recruited teachers is false. This policy was introduced by the Finance Ministry as part of GIFMIS reforms at the time, to check the phenomenon of pay roll fraud and ensure that newly recruited teachers, nurses and doctors were paid their their first three (3) months salary without any hindrance and subsequent salaries paid upon validation. The temporary challenges the policy suffered at the beginning of its implementation were resolved through the interventions of the Finance Ministry under the NDC-Mahama government.

"As for the claim that she left behind debt at the Ghana Education Service when she was exiting as Minister of Education in 2017, the least said about it, the better. It is pathetic and laughable that this claim is coming from a group of people who have doubled Ghana’s public debt in the last three (3) and half years, with very little to show."

Touting her achievements, Mr. Gyamfi was optimistic the pairing of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and former President John Dramani Mahama will give the NDC the needed push in the December polls.

"Her nomination as Running Mate by President Mahama was unanimously confirmed by the NEC, Council of Elders and our Party’s Founder because we know that she is the safest pair of hands who will complement President John Dramani Mahama to execute his vision for the transformation of this country and the creation of prosperity for all when elected.

"The NDC revels in the positive local and international euphoria that has greeted her announcement as Running Mate, and the renewed confidence in our politics it has brought about. We are absolutely convinced beyond a shred of doubt, that our Flagbearer by this spectacular choice, has delivered a political masterstroke that will propel the NDC to a resounding victory on December 7th, 2020 and end Akufo-Addo’s reign of oppression, dishonesty, insensitivity, hopelessness, discrimination against women, corruption and nepotism.