NDC suspends communicator over ‘why act like rape is not normal’ remarks

The NDC has barred Daniel Nortey, its Amasaman Constituency Communications Officer, from all media appearances and public engagements after he made comments suggesting rape was not unusual.

Nortey made the remarks on ATV’s Anopa Bosuo Political Show on Tuesday, October 20, while discussing allegations that Zakaria Abdulai, the interdicted headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, sexually abused 19 female students.

“Why are we behaving as if it is not normal to rape someone? Which man hasn’t raped a lady before?” Nortey said during the discussion.

He also said: “He’s a rapist, and so what? Haven’t you done that before? Is today the first time someone is raping someone?” before asking another panellist whether he had raped someone before.

The comments triggered immediate outrage on social media, with many Ghanaians accusing him of normalising sexual violence.

Nortey later issued an unqualified apology, saying the remarks were made in the heat of a heated discussion and did not reflect his views on rape. He appealed to women, Ghanaians and party executives for forgiveness.

But the NDC Communication Directorate said it viewed the comments with “serious concern and distaste.” It announced on Thursday, October 22, that Nortey is suspended from representing the party in the media and at public engagements until further notice.

The party said it maintains zero tolerance for sexual abuse, especially where children are involved, and warned that allegations of sexual violence must not be trivialised or turned into partisan debate.

The NPP’s Amasaman Constituency Communications Directorate has asked the Ghana Police Service to investigate Nortey’s remarks and determine whether any lawful action is warranted.

It also urged the NDC Women’s Caucus, the party’s Women’s Wing and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to speak clearly against the normalisation of rape and strengthen public education on consent and survivor support.

The controversy has shifted attention from the alleged abuse case itself to a larger national question: whether political loyalty can ever justify treating sexual violence as ordinary.