William Quaittoo’s resignation is rare in Africa - Kusi Boafo

A former lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University, Mr Thomas Kusi Boafo has hailed the former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hon. William Quaittoo for resigning from office over his offensive comments about Northerners.

According to him, the deputy minister’s bold decision is uncommon in Ghana’s politics and especially in Africa, hence deserves to be praised.

“For a Ghanaian and for that matter a Blackman to earn the title honourable and resigning from his post is rare in Africa, especially a young government like this,” Mr. Kusi Boafo averred.

Mr. Quaitoo, who is also the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, in the Eastern Region, came under fire for saying, in an interview on Accra-based Star FM, that northern farmers could not be trusted in their assessment of damage from armyworms.

He further intimated that calls for government compensation for farm losses from the northern farmers were simply a ploy to fleece the state.

“Our brothers [in northern Ghana], it is so difficult to deal with them. I lived there for 27 years; I speak Dagbani like a Dagomba and all that. They are very difficult people. Nobody can substantiate. If anybody says that his farm was destroyed by armyworm, the person would have to come and prove it. We have no records of that. It’s just a way of taking money from the government; that’s what they do all the time.”

Hon. William Quaitoo tendered his resignation letter yesterday and was accepted by President Nana Akufo-Addo who wished him well.

Speaking on Oman FM’s political analysis programme “Boiling Point” Tuesday, Mr. Thomas Kusi Boateng, who commended the former deputy agric minister for his boldness was of the view the unfortunate incident should serve as a lesson for politicians to refine their language.

“It should serve as a lesson to others to refine themselves and their language.

“There are things you can in the Ashanti Region which will not land you in trouble ….but you can say the same thing in Greater Accra and it will land you in trouble. And what you can say in Greater Accra that will be tolerated may not be tolerated in Volta Region…and what you can say in Northern Region may not be tolerated in Ashanti Region,” Mr Kusi Boafo said.

He, thus, charged politicians to study the terrain before they open their mouth to speak.