NDC MPs regard envoy’s apology as insincere and insist on his removal

The Minority in Parliament says the public apology which Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ayisi Boateng rendered, was forced by his superiors at the Flagstaff House and the Foreign Ministry coming 72 hours after intense public pressure on Government to act.

The Minority in Parliament, described Ayisi Boateng's conduct over the last 96 hours, as unfit and lacked the temperament of a diplomat, who should occupy the high office of as a High Commissioner.

They therefore, maintained their stance that, George Ayisi Boateng should resign or be recalled by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with immediate effect.

These were in a statement issued and signed by MP, North Tongu Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in Accra on Thursday, November 2, 2017.

The statement which was copied to the GBCONLINE said, Mr. Ayisi Boateng initially treated with contempt, demand on him to retract and apologize for his remarks, but he chose to adopt a more “belligerent, reckless and divisive” posture.

Below Is The Full Statement:

MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT'S POSITION ON THE RELUCTANT AND INSINCERE APOLOGY OF GHANA'S HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOUTH AFRICA

The Minority in Parliament has had the opportunity at a meeting which ended a while ago to consider the content of an obviously reluctant and insincere public apology rendered by the beleaguered Ghana High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E George Ayisi Boateng.

The Minority further considered the full circumstances surrounding the apology as follows:

That H.E. Ayisi Boateng initially treated with contempt our demand of him to retract and apologize for his unconscionable, bigoted and unconstitutional remarks.

That H.E Ayisi Boateng even in the face of overwhelming condemnation and revulsion from many decent minded Ghanaians still chose to adopt a more belligerent, reckless and divisive posture as demonstrated by his reported retort in which he dared the Minority to go to the Supreme Court if we so please.

That H.E Ayisi Boateng rather than express remorse for flagrantly violating Articles 17 and 35 (3) of the Constitution of Ghana and the requirements of the Oath of Office he swore, unfortunately chose to embark on a pathetic attempt to equalize with non-existing parallels including a wicked effort to denigrate the good name of former president John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory, mobilizing misguided NPP youth groups and some ill-advised party leaders to defend his shameful utterances.

That we have confirmed that the said public apology would not have been rendered by the disgraced envoy if he had not been forced by his superiors at the Flagstaff House and the Foreign Ministry coming 72 hours after intense public pressure on Government to act.

That Ghanaians living in South Africa have expressed their displeasure and sense of insecurity under this embattled High Commissioner demanding that he is not retained.

That the conduct of H.E. Ayisi Boateng over the last 96 hours have shown him to be unfit and lacking the temperament of a diplomat to occupy the high office of High Commissioner.

Therefore, based on all of the above, the Minority is compelled to maintain its stance that H.E. George Ayisi Boateng should resign failing which he should respectfully be recalled by H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with immediate effect.

Signed, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa MP, North Tongu Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament. Issued in Parliament, 02/11/2017.