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NPP Member of Parliament for Adenta constituency, Yaw Buaben Asamoa has denied uttering disparaging remarks about NDC Flagbearer John Mahama's Running Mate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Council and Council of Elders on Monday, July 6, 2020 unanimously endorsed Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Running Mate for Mr. Mahama as the party prepares for the Presidential elections this year.

Former President Mahama commended his Running Mate describing her as a distinguished scholar and role model.

“Naana Jane is God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant, and a role model'', he said on his Facebook.

Some commentators have also described the NDC's choice as a suitable match for Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as President Nana Akufo-Addo competes with Mr. Mahama in the December polls.

Just moments following the announcement of Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Running Mate, a comment purported to be from Yaw Buaben Asamoa surfaced and went viral.

In a paraphrase, Mr. Buaben Asamoa is quoted as saying if Mr. Mahama has chosen a woman as Running Mate, it means he doesn't take Ghanaians seriously.

His comment has outraged many Ghanaians who think he has undermined women in the country.

Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Yaw Buaben Asamoa told host Kwami Sefa-Kayi that he never made such a statement and that what he meant was Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has set a bad precedence in the country.

He explained, under her leadership as Minister of Education during the erstwhile Mahama regime, she oversaw the cancellation of teacher trainee allowances and also failed to implement the gradual free SHS policy that the Mahama government promised Ghanaians among other failed projects in the education sector.

According to him, he was arguing on the lines of politics  and her political precedence, hence his comment about the noble Professor had nothing to do with her gender.

''I never made any disparaging remark. The statement attributed to me isn't what I said. How can I undermine her? She is a fantastic woman who has worked so hard...In fact, she will be angry herself should anybody suggest she was picked as Running Mate because she is a woman'', he said.

He however opined that former President Mahama chose Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang because he knows he will lose the 2020 elections but doesn't want her to compete his re-election as Presidential candidate on the NDC ticket in 2024.

''He's selected someone who will be with him and when they lose the 2020 elections, that person will not compete with him in 2024.''