General News of Wednesday, 22 November 2017

Source: yen.com.gh

Bawa Mogtari questions 'trainee Minister' Napo's attack on Prof Opoku-Agyemang

Special aide to former President Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari Special aide to former President Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari

A former Deputy Minister of Transport, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, has responded to a recent 'attack' on former Minister of Education, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang by her successor, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh describing him as “arrogant” and a “trainee-Minister”.

Dr Opoku Prempeh, also known as Napo, in a radio interview last week, called Prof Opoku-Agyemang a “disgrace” and an “embarrassment” for what he termed as her poor performance as a minister.

“Her four-year tenure under John Mahama was an embarrassment" because "she doesn’t understand education”, he told the late KABA on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen.

However, Mrs Mogtari has stated that Napo's “comments are borne more out of arrogance and the realisation that the standards set by Professor Opoku-Agyemang at the Education Ministry are far higher for him to stand up to, let alone surpass.”

“What kind of arrogance would make a trainee-Minister who is still struggling to understand the mandate of his office, declare that a world-renowned and experienced educationist does not know anything about education?” she wondered in a statement.

Mrs Mogtari who currently serves as the special-aide to former President John Mahama was of the opinion that Napo's attack was a reflection of the what pertains in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“One cannot help but recognise that such arrant disrespect for professional women, is not an individual character trait of Opoku Prempeh, but appears to be a reflection of the ruling party, for if not, President Nana Akufo-Addo would have ensured that his Minister withdraws his embarrassing insult, and apologises to the former Minister.”

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) served as the Minister of Education for the entire duration of former President Mahama's government.