Although the diplomat has apologized for the comments, some Ghanaians argue that it is not enough and are asking for his dismissal.

But Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Sidney Casely-Hayford, who’s group had demanded an apology from Mr. Ayisi  Boateng, said the beleaguered diplomat has learnt his lesson and must be pardoned.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WTc3DFHvN1gWJFKn8VTVVwTfaDpok3Tt”]“…For him to have said what he said was just a silly remark… the beauty of what we [Ghanaians] did is that we went as far as getting Ayisi to render an apology. He had a choice, either he resigned, unreservedly apologize or he was sacked by Nana Akufo-Addo. As OccupyGhana, we issued our position on it. He decided to take the one that was most tolerable to him and gave his unreserved apology.”

As to whether the apology was enough, Mr. Casely-Hayford said: “I think the lesson has gone down – politicians should now be very careful with what they say, where they say it and what they intend to imply when they say it.”

Backgroud

Mr. Ayisi Boateng has been in the news for saying that his first priority is to members of the NPP, and that if he had his own way, members of the party’s Tertiary Students’ Confederacy Network (TESCON), will be prioritized for various jobs.

He also said he considers NPP members as more Ghanaians than others.

“…this government is doing its best to create job opportunities and me for instance, I told my people over there [that], it is because of NPP that I’m here, so the NPP man is my priority. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian take it or leave it,” he said.

His comment invoked a public uproar with some Ghanaians as well as civil society organizations calling on the president to fire him.

However, there has not been any official response from the Flagstaff House on the issue, after he was reportedly invited there for a meeting that culminated in him issuing an apology.

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Ayisi Boateng has learnt from his ‘silly’ comment – Sydney appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Kumasi Stadium has for many years been the preferred venue for all the Black Stars major games including World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers.

The Black Stars were, on Saturday, held to a 1-1 draw by Uganda in the first match of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers in Kumasi.

“Our policy is to rotate venues for all national team matches. Our original plan was to play the game against Uganda in Accra, but you know there are problems with the floodlights and other issues at the Accra Sports Stadium so we were forced to come to Kumasi,” GFA Communications Director, Ibrahim Sannie Daara explained at Sunday post-match press conference.

The Kumasi Sports Stadium, was, however, half empty minutes before the Uganda game, even though the situation improved as the match progressed.

Sports analysts however say the attendance was one of the poorest recorded at the stadium for a Black Stars game since it was renovated in 2008.

Days before the qualifier against Uganda, the fans served notice they would boycott the game because of the Stars’ poor showing at the world cup in Brazil and the sheer disrespect they displayed against the Ghanaian tax payer.

The Sports Ministry in response, announced that entry into the stadium for the game would be free but back-tracked on their decision following concerns raised by National Security officials.

Prices for the tickets were instead reduced in a move which officials claim was to “win back the love of the supporters”

The move was unsuccessful as the home fans constantly booed the Black Stars players and cheered the Ugandans at every opportunity.

 

Never seen anything like this: big potholes at a Ghana qualifier minutes to kickoff. In Kumasi. pic.twitter.com/6iAjS2M5Xe

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) September 6, 2014

However Mr. Sannie Daara, has said that they were not going to abandon the Baba Yara stadium or the fans in Kumasi completely.

“We are not abandoning Kumasi. In our estimation, the crowd in Kumasi mirrored what happened in Brazil. We did everything to calm them down, but it seems they need more time to come to terms with our failure at the World Cup.

“If anyone was in doubt the role fans play in football matches, we all saw the perfect scenario yesterday. We need the fans to support us to win for them, it is very important.

“We are all begging that we put what happened in Brazil behind us and forge forward as a country. We all want a winning Black Stars and we must all support in our own little ways. We are all Ghanaians,” he added.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GFA takes Black Stars games from ‘hostile’ Kumasi fans appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.