Kufuor concerned about A-G's threats of "dramatic" prosecutions

Former president Kufuor bemoans threats to prosecute appointees under his administration Former President Kufuor has expressed concern at suggestions that appointees under his administration will be aggressively pursued next year, describing the comments of some government officials in relation to prosecuting members of his government as unfortunate. His comments follow recommendations by the Ghana@50 probe commission that the two main architects of the golden jubilee celebrations be prosecuted and statements by Attorney-General Betty Mould-Iddrisu at a recent news conference that the Mills’ administration would embark on a “dramatic” prosecution of officials under the NPP administration. The commission which was appointed by the President to investigate the erstwhile Ghana@50 Secretariat recommended the prosecution of the Chief Executive of the Secretariat, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby and the chairman of the National Planning Committee Kwadwo Mpiani who was also Chief of Staff at the Presidency. Madam Betty Mould-Iddrisu at a recent press conference said the Mills administration inherited a “difficult situation,” citing the turnouts at the courts in cases between her office and certain individuals and warned of more “dramatic” prosecutions of former officials “who actually, allegedly, committed criminal offenses.” But speaking in an interview with Accra-based TV3, Mr Kufuor said any such prosecution announced by the A-G would be unacceptable without ample evidence. “If we say we are living under the rule of law, then when a person alleges, that person has a duty to prove. Not until the proof is established, nobody has the right to begin to threaten; 'we’ll put Kufuor’s men in prison' and that sort of thing – that will not be acceptable,” the former president said. “If Kufuor had done that then, perhaps, most of the people threatening would be in jail already.” Mr Kufuor said “we didn’t go into politics to be hated, to make enemies; we went into politics to try to serve our nation. Let it be so.” He said the ruling party must “accept that they are there to serve all of Ghana” and that they must be guided by the fact that “partiality is not the way forward for us.” Former president Kufuor wished Ghanaians “a very good and prosperous new year.” Source: Myjoyonline.com