Outspoken NPP Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency in the Central Region, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, has taken a swipe at John Jinapor, spokesperson for Vice President John Mahama, labeling him an embarrassment and calling on the Veep to dispense with his services.
Speaking on Net 2 TV’s Morning Show, the Assin North MP warned that Mr. Jinapor’s utterances could eventually bring the office of the Vice President to public shame, adding that he (Ken) had always felt John Jinapor was not a good enough aide to the vice president.
The NPP MP was commenting on the dramatic volte-face made by Mr. Jinapor over a letter he had earlier denied its existence.
The Minority in Parliament led by the MP for Manhyia, Hon. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, had threatened to expose the Veep if he did not apologize for using what they considered to be intemperate language – foolish and baloney – to describe their opposition to an amendment to the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill.
The Second Gentleman had expressed surprise at an NDC TEIN workshop that the Minority NPP was vehemently opposed to any attempt to collateralize Ghana’s recently discovered oil, saying it was ‘baloney’ and ‘foolish’ for them to say that the State must not be allowed to use the country’s expected oil revenue as collateral for securing loans for infrastructural development.
The Minority contended the Veep had ulterior motives for backing the Amendment that strongly, and claimed they had in their possession a letter written by the Vice-President making some commitments to a Chinese firm.
Mr. John Jinapor, in a quick rebuttal on Wednesday, December 1st, denied the existence of such a letter. According to him he had spoken with the Vice-president and has confirmed no such letter existed. He even described the letter as “fraudulent” and threatened to take the matter up with the Criminal Investigations Department.
But, the Veep’s Spokesperson beat a sharp retreat when a couple of hours later, admitted that upon further checks, he can now authenticate the existence of the letter.
However, the NPP firebrand questioned whether in the light of the foregoing, Mr. Jinapor sought permission from his boss before speaking on his behalf, adding that should the Veep fail in any capacity the blame should be laid at the doorstep of his aide.
“If he doesn’t succeed, then it is by virtue of his (John Jinapor’s) utterances. He talks without facts but with so emotionally in defence of the vice president, and now that he has goofed; he has embarrassed the vice president. He is not an efficient mouthpiece and if the vice president doesn’t take care he (John Jinapor) will embarrass him…I’m wondering if Vice President John Mahama actually sent him to come out and respond to the issues on his behalf,” he added.
