Ashanti Regional Chairman for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako has endorsed comments from Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, George Ayisi-Boateng suggesting that NPP members are more important than any other Ghanaian.
Whilst many including some NDC Stalwarts are condemning the comments, Chairman Wontumi, speaking on Accra-based Abusua FM indicated that he completely approves Mr. Ayisi’s posturing, maintaining that party members should be catered for and satisfied foremost, then only can the needs and or concerns of any other non-party citizen can be looked at and addressed. His argument stems from the belief that party members sacrificed a lot to secure the NPP the government seat hence should be prioritized above all others.
“If there’s any opportunity, we will make sure our party people are giving priority and if there is any extra chance after taking care of our people, we can then give it to the people.”
“We will support him any day… we support anything Onipanua has said because it’s the truth.” Our party people suffered and laboured to bring the party to power and we can’t ignore their contributions to the party’s success.”
“NPP members are also Ghanaians and so Ayisi-Boateng’s comments are in order.”
Mr. Ayisi-Boateng, speaking to some TESCON members at the Kumasi Technical University on Sunday October 29, 2017 indicated:
“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,” he said.
His comments have not been received kindly by the public and Minority members in Parliament, many of whom have called for his resignation. When confronted however about the chaos his statement has spurred on a Kumasi-based radio station, he had this to say.
“I said nothing bad, I stand by my words, what is wrong with my statement? I have helped many NDC members including E.T Mensah, I am not divisive, E.T Mensah can attest to it”.
Our opponents have developed some hatred for me, they don’t like me. I have decided not to comment on it again, whatever interpretations people will put on it, I am not dampened at all”, he stated.
Meanwhile Mr. Ayisi-Boateng has been summoned to the FlagStaff house to explain his comments considered by many as discriminatory and divisive and which have caused a public outrage.
