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The Minister of Information has recently come under attack after his 'papano' comment in Parliament.

The Ofoase Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah trended for a while on social media with some describing his comment as needless.

Political Scientist with the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Yaw Gyampo in a reaction on social media asked him not to be 'complacent and swollen-headed'.

National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi thinks he is gay.

"Greetings to”PAPANO”, who is famed for groping women, has slept with more than half of his female appointees and has rewarded them with juicy appointments. Ayekoo! #KON-GAY @konkrumah" he tweeted.

Other MPs on the Minority side also feel the use of 'Papano' is unparliamentary.

But speaking in an interview on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo', Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said he is unperturbed by those comments because 'we are in an election year' and apart from that he made the comment in jest.

According to him, "I have really been insulted, smeared, castigated; infact I was taken to the cleaners after that comment but I took it all in good faith because we're in an election year but I will not be flustered or distracted, I will continue to do my work"

'Papano' expunged

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said he subsequently requested that the use of 'Papano' be expunged from the records since his colleague MPs felt offended by it; even though it was a joke.

"I don’t think John Jinapor was offended because we share jokes and as I have stated it was a comment in jest. It’s true it’s a comment on social media but I made it in jest; I didn't mean any harm and after the Speaker said sleeping dogs should be allowed to lie, I requested to speak and I said the comment was just a joke and that since they feel offended by it, it should be expunged from the records and the Speaker allowed," he added.

Listen to him in the video below



Background

‘Papano’ has become a popular phrase on social media after actress Tracey Boakye used it repeatedly to describe a married man she claims she and musician Mzbel are dating.

It subsequently ended in Parliament during the approval of the Agyapa Royalties Limited agreement.

“Mr Speaker, I want to encourage my colleagues on the other side. I want to encourage my good friend who just spoke (John Jinapor). In my hometown, we will say, ‘Papa no.’ ‘Papa no.’ I want to encourage ‘Papa no’ to take some time and follow the structure of this conversation and support,” the Ofoase Ayirebi MP told the House.

Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu in reaction demanded he withdraws the comment else they won’t recognise him as a minister and referred to him as ‘Maame no’. 

“You come to parliament to employ those words used on social media, we take strong objection to it. If you don’t withdraw, we won’t recognize you today as a minister. We will not. Do what you will do...We will give you a name. We will give you a name. And we are serving notice, he was elected just like you. And his constituents respect him. Because you people use ‘Papa no’ on social media. We know what it means. We will match you. You have lost my respect as Minority leader from today. We will match you. We too, we will call you ‘Maame no,” Haruna Iddrisu said.

Eventually, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu ruled that sleeping dogs should be allowed to lie.