Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, has been subject to harsh criticism on social media from a diverse group of people due to his recent verbal attacks on Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s religious views and practices.
He made the divisive comments on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, when he appeared on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana. Sam George has consequently been the focus of a contentious debate.
The MP offended many viewers and social media users, as well as Muslim groups within the NDC, when she called the recently elected 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer a “religious prostitute” during the television program chaired by Randy Abbey.
Sam George said “We will take our time and scrutinise Bawumia for who he is. I will take him on his so-called digitisation drive. We are talking about a man who you cannot vouch for. Do you know whether he is a Muslim?
“When the issue of the Hijabs came up in this country for Muslim girls, did you ever hear Dr Bawumia speak? When the issue of fasting for girls came up during Ramadan, he was silent. When the Muslim Zongo youth were killed in cold blood in Kumasi, Dr Bawumia was silent.
“No true Muslim anywhere in this world believes that Jesus Christ is our lord and saviour. No true Muslim kneels before a Catholic priest or a pastor to lay hands on them – only Bawumia. If you like, you can take the Surah Mariama that talks about who Jesus is. They do not see Jesus Christ as their lord and personal saviour as we do,” he added.
“Bawumia goes to a church, claiming that Jesus Christ is our Lord and personal saviour. He is not a proper Muslim.”
Sam George’s disparaging comments have drawn a lot of flak for being disrespectful and going beyond the bounds of appropriate political debate.
A heated discussion on the Ningo Prampram MP’s remarks has broken out on social media, with individuals lamenting and criticizing his word choice. Many contend that disparaging someone because of their religious convictions is blatantly against the values of tolerance and respect that ought to be maintained in a democratic society.
Sam George’s critics contend that, regardless of political differences, prominent personalities should always participate in polite and productive dialogue instead of launching personal jabs at religious or other sensitive subjects. They contend that this kind of action damages the nation’s democratic values and erodes public confidence in officials.
Several X users have brought attention to the fact that National Chief Imam Shiekh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu has had pastors and priests lay hands on him in prayer on a number of occasions.
“According to Sam George the Chief Imam is not a ‘Proper Muslim’… Something I wonder what these guys are on when they’re communicating,” @EricEtse tweeted.
Another user @PrinceBrobb tweeted “Is @samgeorgegh aware the national chief imam himself has also visited and felicitated with Christians on special occasions?? Does that make him a non-Muslim too? What kind of rhetoric we now condoning all in the name of politicking? This is a very slippery slope for us all.”
