Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah has hit back at Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over comments she described as disrespectful after she received the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) petition on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama during the party’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on Thursday, August 6, Nana Yaa Jantuah rejected suggestions that she was “a nobody,” insisting she had been officially delegated by the President to receive the petition because he and other senior government officials were attending the national memorial marking one year since the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash.
According to her, the Minority Leader’s remarks were not only unnecessary but also amounted to disrespect towards the President, who had entrusted her with the official responsibility.
“Afenyo-Markin, you are not my classmate. I am older than him. How old is he? Even if I’m older than Afenyo-Markin by just two years, he hasn’t got the right,” she said.
Nana Yaa Jantuah argued that questioning her suitability to receive the petition was effectively an attack on President Mahama’s judgment.
“Now he’s insulting the President because it was the President who nominated me to go and receive the petition.”
She further defended her credentials, stressing that her achievements and public service record extend far beyond her current political appointment.
“If we take out this political office, I have achieved a lot in life. I started working at GIPC, I’m well educated, I’m from a good home, and my father is a well-trained lawyer.”
The Presidential Staffer questioned what authority the Minority Leader had to belittle someone carrying out an official assignment on behalf of the Head of State.
She also dismissed claims that she lacked the seniority to receive the petition, insisting that she occupies a senior position within government.
“They claimed because I am a nobody, they made their Deputy Women’s Organiser present the petition to me… I am a senior government official.”
What Afenyo-Markin Said
While presenting the NPP’s petition at the conclusion of the demonstration, Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed disappointment over the level of government representation, arguing that the delegation sent by the Presidency did not reflect the significance of the issues raised.
He stated:
“With great respect to you and without prejudice to your presence, to nominate only you to come amounts to disrespecting us as a political party. I’m the leader of the party in Parliament. You have the General Secretary of the party here. You have the Chief of Staff of the flagbearer. We have the Chairman of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the party.
“The Members of Parliament and the leadership of Parliament are all here. But to disrespect our democracy by only nominating you to come, like I said, with great deference to you, it doesn’t match it. So it means that the government does not even take seriously the grave issues before us. That notwithstanding, we are democrats and we would want to respect.”
The exchange has since generated public debate over protocol, political courtesy, and the level of representation expected when petitions from opposition parties are presented to the Presidency.
The Presidential Staffer questioned what gave the Minority Leader the authority to insult someone who had merely been assigned to carry out an official responsibility on behalf of the President.
Watch the video below:
