We cannot feed others when our own are hungry - John Boadu

Acting General Secretary for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu says those criticizing Ghana’s Commissioner to South Africa, over his discriminatory comments, do not know what they are talking about.

Ghana’s Commissioner to South Africa, Mr. Goerge Ayisi Boateng at a meeting with TESCON members said, he will give priority to NPP members before any other person.

He said, “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. I told them when NDC was in power it was Kwesi Ahwoi who was there, now we are in power, so Ayisi-Boateng is here with you. My topmost priority is the problems of an NPP person before any other Ghanaian, take it or leave it.”

“Indeed I’m not boasting, but I’ve started meeting the NPP groups. Every weekend I meet some group members and I tell you if I had my way, every job opportunity that will come will go to a TESCON member before any other person. And I know my colleague appointees also have the same feeling except that because of IMF we cannot do anything now…We are all Ghanaians but some are more Ghanaians than others,’’ he stated.

He was widely condemned by a section of the public with others calling on the president to sack him.

However, John Boadu told Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM that, those calling for his dismissal are overreacting. The commissioner he said, spoke to NPP members and so his comments should not be held against him.

John Boadu said, ‘’Mr. Ayisi Boateng was speaking to NPP members. He did not meet Ghanaians as an Ambassador but met NPP members and assured them that he will prioritize them…So should he have said anything different from what he said?

Should he have told them that he came for all Ghanaians whether abroad or here?

What is the meaning of that?

Who does that?

‘’We were in this country when the late Mills made a similar comment when he won power. The NDC at a point set up a committee to create jobs for their members,’’ he added.

Mr. Boadu using the analogy of a parent with only GHc20 to feed the children said, that parent cannot feed children of others when their own children are hungry.

He said, you cannot do philanthropic work when your own children are going hungry.

We should not drag this issue. Did Ibrahim Mahama not get contracts because his brother was president?

John Boadu stressed that Mr. Boateng did no wrong and he [Boadu] would have criticized him if his comments were distasteful.