Host of Good Evening Ghana show on Metro TV, Paul Adom Otchere has taken a swipe at the Member of Parliament (MP) for Korley Klottey, Zanetor Rawlings for deciding to lie in politics.
The MP has alleged that the COVID-19 food meant for vulnerable people in society were being shared on partisan basis.
Commenting on this allegation on Good Evening Ghana on Thursday, 16th April, 2020 monitored by Ghanaprex.c, Paul Adom Otchere asked the daughter of former President Rawlings to be the last person to be making allegations with proof.
“Our advice to her is madam, please, please, please madam, don’t get into the politics of other people. The kind of politics that you promise, the hope that you express, the heritage that you come from which you believe you will add to, you shouldn’t do this.
“You can’t say that food is distributed in a partisan way without evidencing it…you know very well that in this commonwealth jurisdiction, he who alleges must prove. You trained in Ireland…how can you, such an important Member of Parliament come and say that food is being shared in a partisan way? Make sure a serious allegation without establishing any iota of prove? We should believe because you said it?,” the Journalist said in an editorial on his show.
Mr Otchere who had earlier compared Ms Rawlings to young politicians like Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, George Andah and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa further said that her heritage and background as the daughter of former President Rawlings shouldn’t allow her to make those baseless claims.
“You’re a daughter of the former President. All of would have been happy to be the daughter of JJ Rawlings, I believe…this is the person that you’re emulating in politics and you come make statements that are unsubstantiated? With this huge background that you have, is that the kind of politics that you’ve turned into? We sincerely hope that this was just a blip and it would never happen again…,” he said.
Background
The daughter of former President Rawlings had accused the Gender Minister and the Mayor of Accra of distributing food to the vulnerable on partisan basis.
“In spite of the government saying [kayaye] are being fed, these people are not getting food,” the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP fumed.
“And the unfortunate thing that is happening is that people are using partisanship to distribute food. This is a humanitarian crisis,” she has alleged.
Her comments has been dismissed by Ministers of Information and Gender and social protection.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah during an interview on TV3 had reacted:
“The allegation sounds a bit strange to the ears…the evidence that we are seeing at first glance makes it difficult to take that allegation hook, line and sinker….”
The Gender Ministry had also reacted calling the claim of the Korle Klottey MP ‘fabrications’.
“While expressing disappointment at Dr. Zanetor Rawling’s attempt to create political mischief out of a humanitarian situation, the ministry hereby states unequivocally that the allegations by Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlins are totally fabricated and not the facts on the ground,” part of the Ministry’s statement read.
Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) CEO, Nii Adjei Sowah whose outfit has been played an active role in the distribution of food to the vulnerable in the capital also reacted to the allegations.
“…It’s unfortunate that at a time like this, such a statement would be made by an Honorable Member of Parliament who has been missing all this while [and] resurfaced out of the blue for attention.”
“Even though the government has welcomed efforts by all to support the effort to lessen the effects of the lockdown on the vulnerable, misinformation and attempts to politicize such efforts should not be countenanced,” he added.
Ms Rawlings who seem less happy with the claims by the government officials had also replied to the statements from the government officials and has called for the President, Nana Akufo-Addo to probe the allegations indicating she and the people of Korle Klottey are read to support such a probe.
“I call on the President, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to institute credible investigations into the seeming politicization of food distribution in this time of crisis. My constituents and I stand ready to cooperate and to present unimpeachable evidence before such an investigative panel.
“May we learn to eschew needless partisanship in this defining period in the history of humankind and come together in true unity to win the war against COVID-19 and to protect the vulnerable adversely impacted in these apocalyptic times,” she said.
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