The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has strongly refuted allegations that he verbally attacked the MP for Klottey Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, during a heated parliamentary session on Tuesday, February 4th. The incident occurred amidst discussions commemorating the 60th anniversary of the death of Joseph Boakye Danquah.
Tensions flared when a male voice shouted, "Daughter of a murderer, sit down! Daughter of a murderer, sit down!" This outburst took place while Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin was attempting to restore order following a heated exchange between MPs regarding the legacy of JB Danquah. The Tamale Central MP, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, had challenged what he perceived as excessive praise from the Minority. The ensuing disorder led Speaker Andrew Asiamah to restrict contributions to parliamentary leadership, silencing other MPs. When Dr. Rawlings attempted to speak, her request was overlooked.
Subsequent social media reports implicated Jinapor as the source of the offensive remark. However, Jinapor vehemently denied these accusations in a press interaction on Wednesday, February 5th. He characterized the allegations as baseless and untrue, emphasizing his respectful demeanor and parliamentary conduct. He stated that he does not engage in such behavior and that he holds former President Rawlings in high regard. Jinapor further clarified that he was unaware of the incident until the video surfaced online that morning. He stressed his parliamentary procedure of seeking the Speaker's attention before speaking across the aisle.
The incident highlights the volatile atmosphere that can arise during passionate parliamentary debates, and the subsequent challenges of verifying online accusations. While the identity of the individual who made the offensive remark remains unconfirmed, Jinapor's denial underscores the importance of due process and responsible reporting in the face of rapidly spreading online information. The matter continues to generate discussion and raises questions about the conduct of parliamentary proceedings and the potential for misinterpretations in the heat of political debate.
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