The Member of Parliament (MP) for Suhum in the Eastern Region, Oboafo Kwadwo Asante, is embroiled in controversy after an audio recording surfaced wherein he alleges that Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Evans Opoku Bobie, made derogatory remarks about the people of Suhum.
In the audio, Oboafo Asante claims that when discussing park rehabilitation, the Deputy Minister referred to the people of Suhum as “fools” who do not appreciate such efforts.
The revelation has stirred considerable anger among Suhum residents, who feel offended by the alleged comments.
Despite uncertainty about the Deputy Minister’s actual words, Oboafo Asante did not reprimand him in the audio, further fueling discontent among the delegates.
Oboafo Asante shared the Deputy Minister’s remarks during a meeting with delegates, causing additional outrage as they believe their MP failed to exhibit leadership by not addressing the offensive language.
“I wanted to come and perform the commissioning of the Roman park with minister of youth and sports but he told me to come with the deputy minister’’ the Suhum MP said on the tape.
“When I saw the deputy minister in Parliament, said Kwabena, you will come and do this work for me’’ he said.
He said: “The Deputy Minister asked whether the project was astroturf or natural park, he asked further whether the project was financed by the Sports Ministry or from my pocket.
“When I told him that it was self-financed, he asked how much and I told him, he then remarked, sorry, forgive me for using that word, he said, these fools, these fools that you are using your money to do things for, these fools that when you do things for them, they don’t appreciate.’’ Oboafo Asante said.
The fact that Oboafo Asante repeated the insults while soliciting votes for the upcoming primaries adds to the anger among NPP delegates in Suhum.
Delegates express doubt in Oboafo Asante’s ability to defend the interests of Suhum, especially since he did not confront the Deputy Minister for the alleged disparaging remarks. As Oboafo Asante seeks reelection in 2024, the controversy has raised questions about his trustworthiness among the constituents.
The NPP has set January 27 for its parliamentary primaries.
‘’When I told him that I was rehabilitating the park from my own pocket, the Deputy Minister said you should have done for these….’’