Sack ‘dangerous envoy’ Ayisi Boateng now – MPs to Akufo-Addo

The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus in Parliament is demanding the immediate removal from office of Ghana’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mr Ayisi Boateng, over his unguarded comments.

Failure to do so, they noted, will mean that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo endorses his discriminatory statement.

In a statement signed and released in Accra, Wednesday, by the MP for North Tongu and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minority contends that they will not relent in demanding action on the matter since they have various options to consider under the Constitution should the President fails to sack Ayisi Boateng.

Below is the full statement:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[1st November, 2017]

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.