Accra, Jan. 13, - Dr Vladimir
Antwi-Danso, a Researcher and International Consultant, says the derogatory and
racist comments US President, Donald Trump, used to describe Africans, blacks
and others were unpardonable, especially coming from a president regarded as
the most powerful in the world.
He said: “In fact, I was really
angry when I heard and read about it and I’m happy the whole world has shown
anger and disgust”.
He said the African Union should
show anger and make a statement, while the individual heads of states and
governments must also come out with statements to express their disgust.
Dr Antwi-Danso expressed these
sentiments in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on Saturday.
President Trump is reported to
have called African countries and Haiti ‘shithole countries’ while discussing
immigration issues with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House on
Thursday.
President Trump is quoted to have
said: “Why do we want all these people from Africa here? They’re shithole
countries … We should have more people from Norway.”
President Trump has since denied
using such vulgar language, tweeting that ‘the language used by me at the DACA
meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. What was really tough
was the outlandish proposal made – a big setback for DACA!’
Dr Antwi-Danso said if it were
US, they would have retaliated and even threatened the one who made that
statement; “So this is the time we have to show that despite the assistance we
have received from America, we have our pride as a continent and we’re proud of
who we are, and don’t owed anybody excuses”.
He said the US President’s
comment was distasteful, which had received worldwide condemnation, saying;
“People have shown their anger and President Trump needs to know how to talk”.
He saidTrump’s comment was
indefensible, adding; “People are trying to defend him by saying that, “That is
how he talks and unaware that the comment would trigger anger around the
world”.
Dr Antwi-Danso said that
President Trump was the first diplomat of America and his utterances served as
gestures to the rest of the world.
“Therefore, his demeanour must go
to conform to the aims and principles of good neighbourliness’ and good
intentions for the world.
“So if you’re a President and you
don’t know how to talk, then there is no excuse for you.
“I have heard some of the
senators saying he is a sick man and, therefore, he doesn’t do any good to US
with his behaviour and utterances,” he stated.
Dr Antwi-Danso said:”The African
Union coming out with a statement doesn’t mean that, it is severing relations
with America, but it’s high time the Continent showed that, it had its pride
and wouldn’t tolerate continued disrespect from the Trump’s administration.
“If the African Union comes out,
at least if for nothing at all, we will be applauded for defending our dignity
and pride”.
Meanwhile, Mr. Irbard Ibrahim, an
International Relations Expert, told the GNA that, although the comment from
President Trump was derogatory and distasteful, the African leaders should
tread cautiously, and not do anything that would affect the bilateral and
multilateral relations between America and the Continent.
“When we respond, we should do so
in diplomatic and unprovoked manner in order not to escalate matters,” he
stated.
Mr Ibrahim said: “To forgive is
divine and Mr. Trump is not a superhuman and not perfect, therefore in our
response, it must be measured and hope that such derogatory comment will not
happen again”.
He said the US Visa Lottery
enabled Africans, Asians, Arabs, Latinos and other people around the world to
contribute towards the development of the US and, therefore, they did not
deserve such distasteful descriptions
from President Trump.
GNA
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