A Human Rights Activist, Kinna Likimani, has said it is alarming that the leadership of Parliament is dragging its feet in reprimanding the Member of Parliament (MP) for Daboya/Makanrigu.
She remarked that the Speaker of Parliament must scrutinize all comments made by Nelson Abudu Baani on the matter and proffer the appropriate sanctions.
Likimani pointed out that although the Speaker is reported to have said the MP’s comments on adulterous women were not made on the floor of Parliament, it is important for the House to address the matter.
“…everywhere Mr. Baani goes, he is an MP and not just in Parliament so the Speaker must do something about it and provide remedy because he [Baani] did harm all of us,” she said.
[contextly_sidebar id=”2DeLy4BrfikVfJnDLBnjjo5xQqz3hx53″]Last week, Mr. Baani suggested that stiffer punishments must be meted out to women who cheat on their spouses.
This punishment, he said, must be included in the Interstate Succession Bill which is currently being debated in Parliament.
In a subsequent interview, the Daboya/Makanrigu MP recommended stoning or hanging as the preferred punishment because according to him, it will effectively serve as a deterrent to other women.
He was widely criticized by Ghanaians who described his comments as “barbaric” and called for a retraction and an apology.
Pressure group, OccupyGhana has since been demanding his resignation and an apology.
They also demanded a public condemnation of the statement from government.
On Tuesday, the Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur told Citi News, the views of the MP is not the position of the government, adding that, the government is keen on protecting the rights of women.
Mr. Baani on his part also issued an apology to Ghanaians, but in an interview with citifmonline.com, Likimani insisted his apology “was not an apology. It is a non-apology and we are demanding an unqualified, unreserved apology from him. He insulted us and what he said was wrong.”
She however commended the government for dissociating itself from Mr. Baani’s statement saying, “We are pleased with government but we need a full apology.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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