Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah has raised concerns about the use of sexualized insults against women in Ghana’s political discourse, saying such attacks are often used to discredit women who speak out or take an active role in public affairs.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, Nana Yaa Jantuah said political actors have instrumentalised insults to bring down opponents, with women often targeted through attacks on their character and reputation.
“Politics has instrumentalised insults in this country, and the way it is done, it is done to bring you down. It is done so that an opponent will not be able to even lift up his or her head, and especially the women. As for the women, they always use prostitution against us. Oh, that is a witch, that is a prostitute. These are the labels you get when you are out there, when you are an assertive woman, when you are a vociferous woman, and these labels are prescribed by those political actors in high places.” She said
Nana Yaa Jantuah said the use of such labels could discourage capable and experienced women from participating actively in politics, particularly when personal attacks extend beyond the individual to their families.
She further alleged that some political actors operate behind social media attacks and called on politicians to take responsibility for the kind of discourse generated by their supporters and surrogates.
Her comments come amid President John Dramani Mahama’s call for a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive language and harmful content on social media, with the proposed process expected to address harmful online content while protecting legitimate criticism, political commentary, satire and dissent.
STORY BY: CHORO MARY ADWOA OWUSUA
