News:
May 14, 2011
The Member of Parliament for Adenta, Kwadwo Adu Asare, has urged the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to desist from making political capital of comments made by the Deputy Minister of Information, James Agyanim Boateng.
The Deputy Minister is purported to have insulted taxi drivers on radio while responding to comments by some NPP officials over the recent reshuffle of ministers by President John Evans Attah Mills.
NPP Chairman, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey described the reshuffle as ‘musical chairs’ which will not bring any significant improvement in the performance of the government.
But responding to the NPP Chairman, a Deputy Information Minister, James Agyenim-Boateng, said unlike the Kufuor government which was reputed for giving taxi drivers ministerial appointments, the Mills administration has appointed competent people to manage the nation’s affairs.
Contributing to a discussion on Oman FM’s morning show “National Agenda” Thursday Morning, the Member of Parliament for Adenta, Kwadwo Adu Asare, accused the NPP of engaging in mere mischief making as the deputy minister’s comment does not amount to insulting taxi drivers.
“This is not an issue which should be stretched as it has been, the NPP wants to score cheap political points in the least opportunity, and this is unfortunate” he said.
Hon. Kwadwo Adu Asare, however cautioned public office holders to be circumspect in their utterances so they don’t incur the wrath of the public.
Meanwhile the Deputy Information Minister James Agyenim-Boateng in a statement has denied ever insulting taxi drivers.
“For the records, I did not insult nor make any derogatory remark about taxi drivers. My comments, which were in response to attacks on some top government officials by a member of the opposition, has been misconstrued and deliberately taken out of context” he stated.
He added that his interview with Joy FM is still available at the station and I encourage the radio station to play the full extent of that interaction back for the public to appreciate the context within which I spoke.
Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh