News:
February 8, 2019
The Women Caucus on the Majority side of Parliament has called on the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) to render an unqualified apologise to the new Member for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhasan for describing her in unprintable words.
The group slammed the Minority for labeling the member “bloody widow.” describing the action as “barbaric, brutal, frivolous, unparliamentary and unconstitutional”.
The inscription was displayed by the Minority and followed same with a walk out of Parliament House moments before the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei- Owusu, was about to swear-in Madam Lydia Seyram.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament, the Deputy Majority Leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo said the position of their colleagues on Madam Lydia Alhassan was disappointing.
“We hereby condemn in no uncertain terms the act of the Minority; a rather disrespectful and inhumane treatment and an attack on the dignity and integrity of womanhood” , Madam Adwoa Safo stated.
Widowhood, she said was not a crime neither would any woman ever wish of becoming a widow.
She said through such unfortunate and “unconventional” circumstances, widows had the chance to represent their late husbands in Parliament and that Madam Lydia Alhassan’s case could not be any different.
The Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament shamed the Minority MPs saying that is not expected from honorable members.
“The Minority must bow down their head in shame and render an unqualified apology to the Honourable Member of Parliament, Honourable Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan as expected of Honourable members,” Adwoa Safo stressed.
She expressed disappointment that the Minority had descended to a level that taints the work of Parliament in increasing the number of female MPs.
“It is therefore worrying if women who boldly and willingly offer themselves to serve their nation are treated this way” she bemoaned.
Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com