Don’t Dare Point Your Fingers At Me Again - Minister warns Gabby

What began as a simple intellectual discourse on the Ivorian situation turned into the issuance of a stern caveat when the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Omane Boamah, on Tuesday, April 12th, displayed what can best be described as ‘intolerance of the highest order’ when he angrily warned the Chief Executive of the Danquah Institute (DI), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko not to dare point his fingers at him when making his point.

This must have come as a surprise to many viewers who witnessed the unfortunate spectacle on the set of Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show.

Host of the programme Randy Abbey, who was completely taken aback, looked on in astonishment as the Deputy Minister curtly interrupted his colleague on the other side of the political divide and issued the warning.

This whole incident played out when Gabby Otchere Darko was having his take on the arrest of self-imposed President of La Cote D’ Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo. The Deputy Minister had earlier had his turn on the topic under discussion.

Cote D’ Ivoire’s former leader, Laurent Gbagbo, whose refusal to step down after losing an election in November triggered a civil war, was captured on Monday after French troops and forces loyal to rival Alassane Ouattara laid siege to his residence.

There have since been arguments of too much foreign interference in the affairs of Ghana’s West African neighbour, with some political scientists and analysts pointing accusing fingers at the French forces. However, French authorities have denied that they played a direct role in Laurent Gbagbo's arrest. "This was an operation, in the end, that took place between Ivorians," French Defence Minister Gérard Longuet told the press. He did recognize however, that French forces in Ivory Coast had "supported" Alassane Ouattara's Republican Forces.

The DI Executive Director, who disagreed with Dr. Omane Boamah’s assertions on France’s intervention in Ivory Coast, rhetorically asked his colleague; “over a thousand lives were lost as well as many more who cannot be envisaged, and your focus is on who brought him out or arrested him?”.

Known for his gesturing mannerisms when speaking, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko was as usual at his gesturing best, albeit benignly, but Dr. Omane Boamah interrupted him and angrily warned “Randy can I come in, let us treat ourselves with respect on this set, (now referring to Gabby) the next time you point your fingers at me like that, I will not tolerate it. Be stable and make your point without pointing your hands at me… don’t do that, don’t do it!” he cautioned.

There was a few minutes pause as the Host (Randy) and the DI Chief Executive (Asare Otchere-Darko) look bemused for an instant. The Deputy Minister again tried to repeat the same ‘stunt’ but this time the Host, who would not be caught off-guard twice, stepped in and said; “…Dr. Boamah, I won’t allow this again, the first one I let it go but I won’t accept it again, you know in your heart that the gestures Gabby made were not disrespectful”.

Sheepishly, the deputy Minister grinned and later laughed off Randy’s attempt to bring him to order. Thankfully, the programme continued without any further drama.