The Minority in Parliament has turned the heat on President Nana Akufo-Addo to break his silence over the widely condemned partisan comment made by Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ayisi Boateng.<\/p>\n
According to the Minority, turning a blind eye on the issue will mean that Akufo-Addo endorses such comments which have been described as \u201cbigotry.\u201d<\/p>\n
The diplomat, while addressing members of the Tertiary Students\u2019 Confederacy Network\u00a0 (TESCON) in the Ashanti Region over the weekend, said his first priority<\/strong><\/a><\/span> is to members of the party, and that if he had his own way, members of TESCON will be prioritized for various jobs.<\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”WOwRPmSAZ1zF4NFSXGfccfB4EnzotbRS”]Mr. Boateng said he considers NPP members as more Ghanaian than\u00a0others.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026this 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\u2019m 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Minority in a statement said: \u201cWhile Ayisi Boateng’s apparent suicidal mission in the face of overwhelming condemnation by decent minded Ghanaians has made him the \u2018Chemical Ali\u2019 of Ghana’s Diplomatic Service, the Minority in Parliament like most Ghanaians believe the ball is now squarely in the court of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to show this dangerous envoy the exit.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement signed by its Ranking Member on Parliament\u2019s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, further said \u201cThe loud silence of Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Government led by President Akufo-Addo especially in the face of some reprehensible support from sections of the NPP led by its Acting Chairman Freddie Blay, is most troubling as it has the tendency to convey a tacit approval of the egregious sins of their chief diplomat in South Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n The Minority further described Mr. Ayisi\u2019s comments as \u201csuicidal,\u201d disgraceful and must be sacked immediately<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is generally understood that anything short of giving the disgraced High Commissioner to South Africa the sack by President Akufo-Addo can only mean that the President endorses his deplorable statements and perhaps explains Ayisi Boateng’s continuous show of rare spiteful bravado.”<\/p>\n The Minority in the statement also vowed to use every means possible to have their demands met.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will not relent in demanding action on this matter. We have considered our options under the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament, and can indicate our readiness to trigger further processes if Government inertia continues,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n Below is the full statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO MUST ACT NOW<\/strong><\/p>\n The Minority in Parliament has taken judicial notice of the rather defiant, intransigent, stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, adamant, stiff-necked and unremorseful posture of Ghana’s disgraced High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E. George Ayisi Boateng.<\/p>\n While Ayisi Boateng’s apparent suicidal mission in the face of overwhelming condemnation by decent minded Ghanaians has made him the “Chemical Ali” of Ghana’s Diplomatic Service, the Minority in Parliament like most Ghanaians believe the ball is now squarely in the court of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to show this dangerous envoy the exit.<\/p>\n For a country that is famed for producing internationally celebrated and distinguished diplomats of the highest caliber in the persons of H.E. Kofi Annan, Dr. Alex Quaison-Sackey, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambers, Mr. Alex Quartey, just to mention a few.<\/p>\n It surely must be an affront of monumental proportions to keep Ayisi Boateng in this reputable league of diplomats for an extra minute.<\/p>\n It is generally understood that anything short of giving the disgraced High Commissioner to South Africa the sack by President Akufo-Addo can only mean that the President endorses his deplorable statements and perhaps explains Ayisi Boateng’s continuous show of rare spiteful bravado.<\/p>\n Thus far, the loud silence of Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Hon. Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Government led by President Akufo-Addo especially in the face of some reprehensible support from sections of the NPP led by its Acting Chairman Freddie Blay is most troubling as it has the tendency to convey a tacit approval of the egregious sins of their chief diplomat in South Africa.<\/p>\n Ghanaians have heard enough from virtually everyone including former Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors who have lined up to condemn Ayisi Boateng and attempt to salvage what is left of the hitherto enviable reputation of Ghana’s diplomatic service.\u00a0 However, the time to hear from current officialdom is NOW.<\/p>\n The Minority will not relent in demanding action on this matter. We have considered our options under the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament and can indicate our readiness to trigger further processes if Government inertia continues.<\/p>\n A clear message ought to be sent to public officials that Article 17 of the Constitution of Ghana which forbids discrimination must be respected and that people with the Ayisi Boateng mindset which suggests some Ghanaians are more Ghanaian than the rest of us will have no hiding place to nurture their bigotry and prejudice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Signed,<\/p>\n Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa<\/p>\n MP, North Tongu<\/p>\n Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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