The Majority Women’s Caucus in Ghana's Parliament has called on Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, to pursue legal recourse against the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, for his disparaging remarks.

In a recent appearance on TV3, Dumelo made a provocative accusation, alleging that Alhassan played a role in her late husband’s death to facilitate her election to Parliament.

In a statement to the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) in Accra on August 29, 2024, the Majority Women’s Caucus, under the leadership of Patricia Appiagyei, MP for Asokwa and Chairperson of the group, condemned Dumelo’s comments as unfounded, harmful, and a grave affront to women in positions of authority.

“This outrageous and contemptible statement is not only a vicious attack on Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan but also an insult to all women who work tirelessly to serve their communities and the nation in positions of leadership”, she noted.

She added “The Majority Women’s Caucus in Parliament stands resolutely with Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan. We fully support her decision to seek legal redress and encourage her to take this matter to a court of competent jurisdiction, where Mr. Dumelo will be compelled to prove his baseless and malicious allegations.”

The Caucus holds that pursuing legal action will clearly demonstrate that women in politics will not tolerate harassment or threats from baseless and harmful accusations. They fully support Seyram Alhassan, the current MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, in her quest for justice.

“Hon. Alhassan has done nothing but serve her constituents and the nation with dedication and integrity”, said a member of the Women’s Caucus, adding that “We will not stand idly by while her reputation is tarnished by baseless accusations.

Alarmed by the situation, the Majority Women’s Caucus is encouraging all women in politics to unite against such attacks and offer mutual support during challenging times.

They are also appealing to all political figures to run their campaigns with integrity and respect, avoiding personal attacks that erode the democratic process.

“The progress of our democracy depends on the ability of all participants to engage in meaningful debate on ideas and policies without descending into the gutter of unfounded and disrespectful allegations”, Appiagyei, known in the political circles as Mama Pat, asserted.

The Majority Women’s Caucus in Parliament has issued a strong condemnation that mirrors a recent statement from the Widows Association of Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.

On Thursday, the Widows Association also voiced profound disappointment and disapproval of John Dumelo’s remarks targeting Lydia Seyram Alhassan.

In their statement, the Widows Association described Dumelo’s comments as a grave insult to the dignity of widows, who already endure considerable emotional and societal difficulties after losing their partners.

“His words are a painful reminder of the stigmatization and discrimination that widows often face in our society,” the statement in part read.