[ 2017-02-01 ]

Ursula Gifty Owusu Ekuful if approved will become the Minister of Communication

Ursula glad for 'toning down' fiery language
Outspoken Communications Minister-designate is
glad to have toned down on her fiery political
discourse which she credits to a course she
undertook.

Ursula Gifty Owusu Ekuful said the course at the
Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training
Centre (KAIPTC) opened her eyes to how people
unwittingly lead themselves into some dangers
through their actions and utterances.

"It helped me to sit back and tone down a
bit...pause a bit more before jumping into the
fray," she told Parliament's Appointments
Committee Wednesday when she took her turn at the
vetting.

The Ablekuma West Member of Parliament (MP) is
known for her no-nonsense posture. She has taken
on functionaries of the National Democratic
Congress (NDC) for some actions she believed were
not in the interest of the country.
Mrs Ekuful was reported to have said on
Accra-based Okay FM in 2012, that she was troubled
by the fact that some personality from the three
regions of the North have shown opposition to the
New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) free senior high
school (SHS) policy.

He received backlash from some youth groups in the
Northern Region for branding all "northerners
cattle rearers."
Group - Coalition of Northern Youth Groups,
demanded an unqualified apology from the MP for
making comments it claimed portrayed people of the
three regions of the North as “second class
citizens.”

Also, in January 2013, former Majority leader
Alban Bagbin described as unfortunate, the verbal
altercation that occurred between the MP and her
colleague Nanton MP Murtala Muhammed.

The two who were then first-time MPs were reported
to have charged at each other amidst hot verbal
exchanges after their discussion on Accra-based
Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana Programme.


Asked by MP for Lawra Anthony Abayifi Karbo if she
regrets her past utterances, under a tone
considered earnest, she said, "I am sure in our
much somber moments there are incidents you would
much rather not done."

"In the heat of battle when you are facing an
onslaught you must fire a few salvos whole you
scurry for cover," she quickly added.

Mrs Ekuful said it is important political actors
take steps to reduce the political heat even in
the heat of the political battle for power. "If
you open the door we would all walk through it but
sometimes we need to restrain ourselves."

The former boss of Zain now Airtel said the
cordial manner in which MPs from opposing sides
relate with each other in parliament should
resonate and be extended outside parliament for
the supporters to know they are not enemies.
"We sink or swim together. Ghana has space for all
of us and so we should all be able to live
together," she said.

"We really need to build bridges and stop the
punch me and I punch you," a calm Mrs Ekuful said.
"We can argue passionately but lets draw the line
at drawing blood, sometimes we tend to overdo it
and I am as guilty of as the next person."

When asked by MP for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu
if she would not repeat such an attitude, Mrs
Ekuful said, “an acidic tongue to a very
ministerial diplomatic Ursula and for that matter
if there were any sin that her tongue committed
knowingly or unknowingly she should be
forgiven.”

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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