THE CAMP of the immediate past President of Ghana, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, is boiling with rage, following derogatory comments made against the former mayor of Kumasi, Mad. Patricia Appiagyei, concerning the appointment to her previous position.

The former President was reported to have expressed disgust at the scandalous statement made by the Asokwa Member of Parliament (MP), which sought to portray that Mad. Appiagyei secured the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) position, not on merit, but because of sexual favours.

According to an inside source, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor was reported to have called the controversial MP from his base in Nigeria, where he expressed his displeasure at the MP's loose talk.

The hotheaded MP stirred yet another controversy after throwing a punch at his potential challenger for the Asokwa seat, warning her that she cannot win the parliamentary seat by offering her bottom like she did for the MCE job.

Answering questions on FOX 97.9FM in Kumasi, concerning his chances at next year's primary of the party in the Asokwa constituency, following reports that some prospective candidates, including the former mayor, were eyeing his seat, Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, popularly known as 'Kofi Ghana,' fired shots at his successor, and warned her that the battle for the parliamentary ticket would not be fought using bottom power like the MCE post.

The MP was quoted as saying, 'She thinks she is tough, huh, so she succeeded me at KMA, and so she thinks that she can succeed me as an MP, let me tell her that as for the MCE, you can use your bottoms to secure it, but when it comes to parliament, you have to win through elections.'

By implications, Mr. Jumah's comment seemed to have indicted the ex-President, who appointed Mad. Patricia Appiagyei to the position during his reign as the President in 2005, and the 'Gentle Giant,' as he is affectionately called, appears not to be enthused at all.

Reports say the former President had a chat with the embattled MP, and reprimanded him for the distasteful comment which has received widespread condemnation from various sections of the public, particularly, women gender activists.

Not even the apology from the firebrand legislator has been enough to soothe the pain of party supporters and people affected by his comment.

Meanwhile, the beleaguered MP has confirmed being in touch with the ex-President, but denied that he was chastised.

Mr. Jumah said former President Kufuor phoned him from his base in Nigeria to seek clarification on the issue, but not to lambast as was being speculated.

'Yes, the former President called me, but I managed to explain to him that the issue does not concern him, and he understood it. As for reports that Mr. Kufuor insulted me, it is a figment of people's own imaginations. You, under normal circumstance, would feel disturbed, but I do not think the issue concerned him,' he stated in an interview with this reporter.

The NPP MP has since rendered an unqualified apology for his comment, which he said, was not meant to insult or denigrate women in general, and his competitor in particular.

'I have always been an advocate for women, and there is no way I can insult them. I am very sorry if my statement has caused pain to them,' he told an Accra-based radio station, Joy 99.7FM.