George Ayisi Boateng
Embattled diplomat George Ayisi Boateng has unreservedly retracted and apologized for his unfortunate comment that has gotten the media boiling.
In a statement, the beleaguered High Commissioner to South Africa said his comments were “unfortunate” and “undiplomatic,” and has therefore begged Ghanaians to forgive him.
Mr Ayisi Boateng made the headlines for saying that he would prioritize the interest of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters over and above any other Ghanaian.
Earlier, pressure group OccupyGhana, had asked the High Commissioner to render an apology for his “partisan” comments.
The envoy had told members of the governing NPP and its student wing – the Tertiary Students’ Confederacy (TESCON) – in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, that they were his priority in his dealings while at his duty post.
He explained that it was by dint of the hard work party loyalists put in that saw it (party) recapture power and so it would be the right thing to prioritize their needs, urging other senior members of the NPP to do same.
His comments had generated a lot of controversy, with many describing them as very divisive, thus urging him to retract the statement and offer unqualified apology to Ghanaians.
In statement preceding Mr Ayisi Boateng’s apology, OccupyGhana said it was “disgusted and appalled by High Commissioner George Ayisi Boateng’s discriminatory comments that pitched partisan interests above those of other Ghanaians.”
The pressure group said, “We are even more shocked by his unrepentant expression of lack of remorse in the face of the massive expressions of disappointment at his divisive comments.
“We do not have to remind the High Commissioner that as a public officer of his standing, he is required to speak both with honour and from a patriotic disposition. He has failed in this regard.
“We do not have to remind the High Commissioner that he must operate above party cronyism and the prioritization of partisan interests above the supreme interests of the Ghanaian people. He has failed in this regard.”
It stressed, “We do not have to remind the High Commissioner that his comments run counter to the theme of his own party’s Manifesto: ‘An Agenda for Change. Creating Prosperity & Equal Opportunities for All.’ He has failed in this regard too.
“We cannot condone such statements, and we condemn them in no uncertain terms as unbefitting of an envoy and holder of a high privileged diplomatic office.”
OccupyGhana has called on the NPP and government to denounce the statement and demand full retraction and apology.
“If he should fail or refuse to do that, then we would respectfully and humbly call on the president to remove Mr Ayisi Boateng from office as High Commissioner,” it declared.
By Melvin Tarlue