Can a man be said to be justified for publicly reprimanding another, for bringing shame and disgrace to him in the open? Any advocate of this principle could easily be tagged as an ardent believer in the Law of Moses which states that “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.
But the National Women’s Organizer of the New Patriotic Party is of the view that irrespective of the fact that one may be deemed to have plunged the name of a family in disrepute, the issue cannot be discussed in public but rather at a family meeting.
Otiko Afisah-Djaba made these comments following calls for the resignation of the Chief Scribe of the party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also known as Sir John, on Adom Fm’s Dwaso Nsem programme, during a panel the discussion.
Sir John has come under intense criticism from a cross section of the general public including members of his own party, the NPP; after he was convicted for criminal contempt by the Supreme Court.
Though he escaped a custodial sentence, the out-spoken NPP General Secretary was slapped with a GHC 5000 find and made to sign a bond of good behavior for the next six months after he was found guilty of making disparaging comments about the Presiding Judge of the Apex Court, Justice William Atugubga.
This, however is considered by many, including a founding member of the NPP, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe as a disgrace to the party and a breach of the principles and ideals the party stands for, as such, Sir John must resign or be sacked.
But the Women’s Organizer of the party is of the opinion that as a founding member of the party, Dr. Tamakloe should rather have used his status to unify the party and also direct his grievances through the party structures and not resort to the media.
“If you are a founding member of this great party and you want to contribute to an issue, but you choose to address it on radio rather than at a party meeting, one can question your motives…the title of a Founding member is a big one with huge responsibilities because it is not everyone who can be given the tag “founding member”. It is like a father or the head of family. Does he have to go on radio to discuss family matters?” she quizzed.