The Minority in Parliament are mounting pressure on President Akufo-Addo to sack Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi Boateng, describing him as a “dangerous envoy”.
The demand follows what many have described as divisive and partisan comments made by Mr. Ayisi Boateng over the weekend.
“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… My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it,” Mr. Ayisi Boateng told a group of NPP youth.
But the Minority in a statement signed by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the man has misconducted himself enough for the president to show him the exit.
“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.”
Find the full statement below
PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO MUST ACT NOW
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.
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.
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. It surely must be an affront of monumental proportions to keep Ayisi Boateng in this reputable league of diplomats for an extra minute.
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.
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.
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. However, the time to hear from current officialdom is NOW.
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.
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.
Signed,
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
MP, North Tongu
Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.
Read also: Divisive comments: Fredy Blay schools Ayisi Boateng
Source: 3news.com | Ghana