Prof. Stephen Kwaku Azar Asare has strongly condemned a verbal attack on Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, by an unidentified colleague in Parliament.
He described the attack as unwarranted, below the belt, and highly unparliamentary.
During a parliamentary session, an unidentified MP accused Dr. Rawlings of being a “murderer’s daughter,” referencing former President J.J. Rawlings’ execution of corrupt eight officials during the Firing Squad incident under his military regime.
The comment, which many have described as a personal and unjustified attack, has sparked widespread condemnation.
Accordingly, Prof. Asare asserted that such remarks undermine the dignity of Parliament and have no place in the House.
He stressed that Parliament should be a place of constructive debate and respectful discourse, not personal attacks.
“It is to her credit that she did not respond to the utter provocation, but she does not deserve this while simply attending Parliament and doing her job. What exactly did she do to incur such unwarranted hostility?
“Such a remark could never have come from the 2nd Parliament, whose members arguably lived through the experiences of the PNDC”.
Prof. Stephen Kwaku Azar Asare
According to him, civility in Parliament is not just declining but deteriorating at an alarming rate.
He noted that debates often escalate over trivial matters, leading to unnecessary hostilities and a disregard for decorum.
Prof. Asare called on the Privileges Committee to take swift action, investigate the incident, and impose severe sanctions on the MP responsible for the attack.
He argued that failing to act decisively would set a dangerous precedent, allowing disrespect and hostility to fester in the legislative chamber. “Decorum and respect should never be casualties of political discourse,” he warned.
MP Denies Allegations of Attack In Parliament
Meanwhile, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor categorically denied claims that he is the unidentified MP who attacked Dr. Zanetor Rawlings.
Hon. Jinapor, an NPP Minority MP for Damongo, was mentioned in speculation, prompting him to issue a strong rebuttal.
“The general public is kindly advised to totally disregard the suggestion that I made unsavory comments about Hon. Dr. Zanetor Rawlings while she was on her feet on the floor of Parliament contributing to a statement.”
Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor
Jinapor emphasized that he holds the utmost respect for the Rawlings family and dismissed the allegations as false. “For the record, the said allegation is absolutely false,” he declared.
Accordingly, he reaffirmed his admiration for former President Jerry John Rawlings, describing him as a statesman who greatly influenced him as a young politician.
He recalled that Rawlings had taken a keen interest in him during his lifetime, and he deeply respected him as a Ghanaian statesman.
He emphasized that he has never and will never disparage the Rawlings family or any Ghanaian, stressing that such behavior is not in his nature.
Jinapor maintained that he has always championed civil and intellectual discourse in Parliament and public discussions, advocating for debates centered on policy and ideas rather than personal attacks.
He reiterated his commitment to decent and respectful discourse, free from insults and character assassination.
Parliament’s Decorum Concerns Resurface
Meanwhile, the attack on Dr. Rawlings has reignited concerns about the declining level of decorum in Ghana’s Parliament.
Many Ghanaians, civil society organizations, and political commentators have expressed concern over the increasing trend of personal attacks and insults in parliamentary debates.
Critics argue that such behavior distracts from the core responsibilities of lawmakers, which include passing legislation and addressing national issues.
Instead of engaging in constructive discourse, some MPs resort to personal attacks, which only serve to divide the nation further.
Accordingly, Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, expressed concern over the lack of accountability for the attacks on Dr. Rawlings.
He lamented that such incidents would likely go unaddressed, highlighting a broader issue of impunity in political discourse.
“Eiiiii. I bet you, that MP [if identified] will not apologize because he might be able to justify his comment. That is democracy”.
Mussa Dankwah
Dankwah stressed the need for greater responsibility and civility in public discussions, emphasizing that figures like Dr. Rawlings deserve respect, even in disagreements.
The attack on Dr. Zanetor Rawlings has once again raised concerns about the state of parliamentary discourse in Ghana.
As calls grow for accountability and reform, it remains to be seen how Parliament will address this issue to restore confidence in the legislative process.
While political differences are inevitable, the need for civility, respect, and constructive engagement cannot be overstated.
The outcome of this controversy will set a precedent for how future instances of misconduct in Parliament are handled.
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