Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said his ‘Papa no’ comment in Parliament on Friday was not aimed to denigrate anybody.
According to the Ofoase Ayirebi MP, the comment was made in jest, that is, he did not meant it seriously.
Speaking on the floor of parliament as the House approved the Agyapa Royalties Limited agreement, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah used “Papa no to refer to minority MP, John Jinapor.
“Mr Speaker, I want to encourage my colleagues on the other side. I want to encourage my good friend who just spoke (John Jinapor). In my hometown, we will say, ‘Papa no.’ ‘Papa no.’ I want to encourage ‘Papa no’ to take some time and follow the structure of this conversation and support,” the Ofoase Ayirebi MP told the House.
This however triggered an unusual anger from the minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who demanded that he withdrew the comment else they won’t recognise him as a minister, and referred to him as ‘Maame no’.
The Minority MPs then walked out of the house in protest of the deal which was approved by the majority after First deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei Owusu, ruled that sleeping dogs should be allowed to lie.
But after the approval was given, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told the house; “Mr. Speaker, earlier, I was trying to catch your eye to request that the use of my expression which caused apprehension on the other side be expunged from the record. I didn’t mean it to offend anybody. It was in jest. And if anybody took offence to it, the records should reflect that it’s been expunged,” he said.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com