'NPP Party Man Ayisi-Boateng Should Be Reassigned'

The ranking member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee says embattled South African High Commissioner should be reassigned to play a role in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says George Ayisi-Boateng, having been lauded as a very good party man, he "could be reassigned within the party."

“We are told that he does really help party members and he is a TESCON patron and all of that,” he added.

Mr Ayisi-Boateng came under public criticism after declaring that he will prioritise members of the NPP in his dealings because they are the reason he got the job.

The comments were condemned as undiplomatic, and calls for his resignation keep increasing despite his public apology.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Explaining the Minority’s call for his resignation, the North Tongu Parliamentarian said on Thursday morning when they met, they considered his belligerent attitude not to apologise after 72 hours as worrying.

Also, the lack of confidence by Ghanaians in South Africa not to work with him made their call for his resignation or reassignment stronger.

“As a senior citizen and a High commissioner, we all thought that he will take the opportunity to apologise and rally all of us and assure everybody in South Africa of the protection of his office if he need be."

The former Deputy Minister of Education explained that if the second apology had come from Kumasi where Mr Ayisi-Boateng lives and he had not been summoned, coerced and compelled, the Minority will not have had any qualms with it.

"But if he was compelled which appears to be the case in this instance, how sure are we that he has changed the mindset because the apology says upon sober reflection. Sober reflection at the Flagstaff House after compulsion?

"He should have issued this apology at his own behest, voluntarily and not coerced," he noted.

Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako
Adding his voice to the calls Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako said President Nana Akufo-Addo must sack Mr Ayisi-Boateng.

Kwaku Baako says it would be better if Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa exited voluntarily after making a public statement that has been condemned as divisive and undiplomatic, but since he has failed to do so, the President must act to save the face of Ghana’s diplomatic missions.

“If I had my way and if I was the adviser to the President I would say that they should ask him [Ayisi-Boateng] to step aside. It is better,” he said.

Kwaku Baako also believes Mr Ayisi-Boateng must go because his gaffe is unpardonable.

“None of us is perfect, so it is expected that occasionally we will slip here and there. All of us sitting here we have slipped some occasions.

"We have apologised, we have retracted and we’ve asked for forgiveness and we expect that people will do so. But High Commissioner to South Africa...he was speaking in a public forum...so I find it so difficult that he spoke [that] language and the content of it.”

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim