Yusif Sulemana, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Bole, has caused a stir, claiming the people of Kyebi in the Eastern Region were drinking water with pigs.
According to the NDC MP, if President John Mahama has not done anything for Kyebi, at least he provided them with portable drinking water when they were drinking water with pigs.
He made these remarks when he was responding to claims of the decline of water bodies due to illegal mining.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, Yusif Sulemana boldly stated, “If John Mahama has not done anything for the people of Kyebi, he provided them with portable water when they were drinking water with pigs”.
In a sharp rebuttal, Annoh-Dompreh, the Minority Chief Whip, described the deputy minister’s remarks as unfounded, offensive and disrespectful.
He further called on the Deputy Minister to provide evidence to back his claims or withdraw the comment and apologise.
He said the people of Kyebi were drinking water with pigs; he made that definite statement.
“Granted that he want he wants to stand by that statement, then he must provide evidence for that statement. Otherwise, the comment must be withdrawn and expunged from the records and must apologise to the good people of Kyebi and the people of Eastern Region,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh said.
According to reports, Bernard Ahiafor, the First Deputy Speaker, later ordered the statement struck out of the Parliamentary Hansard.
However, Yusif Sulemana’s remarks have ignited debate on social media. A netizen who shared the video stated, “Such a lunatic is representing people in Ghana’s parliament! This country would’ve been up in flames if this silly comment had come from an Akan MP. The NDC continues to erase any fibre of decorum and wit in our democracy!”
Another Ghanaian wrote, “This was a strategic decision aimed at igniting a debate. It’s acceptable to say that Northerners drink the same water as cattle, but the same cannot be said for the people of Kyebi. You all are not being serious”.
“Recently, an Akan regional minister claimed that Northerners are not human and suggested that they need to be bathed before entering Kumasi. Do you see nothing wrong with such nonsense? Now, the tables have turned, and you all are crying and sweating like fish out of water”, another X user added.
Another X user added, “So the speaker saw nothing wrong with the deputy lands minister and went on to ask what was the offensive word…herrrrh ndc watch out oo.. lil things like this led the NPP out… ghana is watching”.
One more Ghanaian added, “So insensitive. Imagine if this had come from an Akan person directed at people living in the north of Ghana, it would raise a lot of concern. The double standards toward Akans are so wrong. Akans have suffered a lot of tribal insults, but when it’s the other way around,notyn is said”.
“If Southern made this statement, u would ve heard tribal sentiments from the NDC. Mutala Mohammed once said in parliament that JB Danquah and his group were traitors. Nobody in NDC rebuked him, but when someone said JJ was a murderer, u saw the reactions. We shouldn’t encourage the”, one more netizen noted.
Additionally, a netizen recounted, “My father had had an accident in the last 2 years, and he was sent to a village in Old Ningo they drink water with cows. But Sam George is always here making noise. Even in Mahama’s hometown, how many people drink potable water?”.
Watch the video below:
Such a lunatic is representing people in Ghana's parliament! This country would've been up in flames if this silly comment had come from an Akan MP. The NDC continues to erase any fibre of decorum and wit in our democracy! pic.twitter.com/606AAbUD9i
— Richard Gyamfi (@rgyamfi107) November 22, 2025