Minority rejects apology of Ayisi-Boateng
The Minority in Parliament has rejected the apology rendered by Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr George Ayisi- Boateng, for his politically divisive statement and demands his resignation or recall by the President.
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It described the apology rendered by Mr Ayisi- Boateng as an "obviously reluctant and insincere public apology".
A statement signed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu and Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the conduct of Mr Ayisi-Boateng over the last 96 hours had 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 George Ayisi-Boateng should resign, failing which he should respectfully be recalled by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with immediate effect," it said.
Circumstance of apology
The statement said he initially treated with contempt the Minority's demand of him to retract and apologise for his unconscionable, bigoted and unconstitutional remarks.
Besides, it said, Mr 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."
The statement said rather than expressing remorse for flagrantly violating Articles 17 and 35 (3) of the Constitution of Ghana and the requirements of the Oath of Office he swore, he unfortunately chose to embark on a pathetic attempt to equalise with non-existing parallels including a wicked effort to denigrate the good name of former President John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory, mobilising misguided New Patriotic Party (NPP) youth groups and some ill-advised party leaders to defend his shameful utterances.
" 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.”
" Ghanaians living in South Africa have expressed their displeasure and sense of insecurity under this embattled High Commissioner, demanding that he is not retained," it said.