By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism has condemned, “reckless comments” on defeated National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential aspirant, Prof. Joshua Alabi by a leading member of the party, Stephen Atugiba, describing his comments as “senseless, disgraceful and undemocratic.”
The Association in a press statement signed by its National President, Abdul Wahid Ishaq said “it is very unfortunate that the NDC as a political party hoping for power in 2020 is allowing some political clowns like Stephen Atugiba to use their platform to demonstrate their moral flaws, ignorance and uncivilised manners to the public.”
The statement followed media reports last week in which the ardent supporter of former president John Dramani Mahama, has impressed upon delegates not to vote for Prof. Alabi in Saturday’s Presidential primaries of the party because of his (Prof. Alabi) albinism.
Mr. Atugiba was reported to have campaigned against the former Vice Chancellor of UPSA saying it would not be in the interest of the party and Ghana as a whole.
“If you vote for Professor Joshua Alabi as NDC candidate and he becomes President of Ghana, he can’t go to Tanzania to negotiate, he will be used for rituals there because he is an albino.”
“Albinos are an endangered group of people in Tanzania and that should Professor Alabi be elected NDC flag bearer and eventually wins the general elections, Ghana will have to cut ties with that country because the President cannot go there,” he added.
But the Association educated the “confused and desperate politician” that there are persons with albinism in Tanzania and elsewhere occupying places of importance and contributing to their countries’ development and that his comments could not be anything to go by.
“Persons with albinism in Africa and in Tanzania are occupying sensitive political positions. Notable among them include Dr. Abdallah Possi, a lawyer and a Tanzanian Ambassador, Madam Namasonto Mazibuko who is a Commissioner for Gender Equality in South Africa, Dr. Isaac Mwarura, a Senator in Kenyan Parliament among others.”
The Association therefore called on Mr. Atugiba for retraction of his comments and to “render an unqualified apology to the albinism community and also “refrain from such uncivilized and undemocratic way of speaking” in the future.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
