NDC leadership meet Mills over Rawlings’ accommodation

The remains of the Ridge residence that was gutted on February 14 this year   The leadership of the ruling National Democratic Congress has met President Mills over the provision of accommodation for former president, Jerry John Rawlings. The former First Family is still without accommodation – more than three months after their residence was destroyed in a fire outbreak. The issue of former President Rawlings’ residence was placed back into the front burner Wednesday when Mrs Rawlings told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show that she and her husband were looking for a place to rent pending the fulfillment of government’s promise to properly resettle them. Following that, about 20 functional executive committee members of the NDC, including the general secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia and a vice chairman Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah, discussed the issue with a seven member government delegation. Joy News’ Sammy Darko who spoke to some of those who sat through the meeting said the executive were to obtain first-hand information from the president about the issue. He said information gathered point to the fact that the executive members were not convinced by the explanation provided by the government team. The NDC leadership, he said, were of the view that it has taken the government far too long to respond to the accommodation needs of the former First Family. They however asked party sympathizers to be calm and should not do anything untoward to disturb the peace in the party and that of the country at large. Meanwhile, the government says it is awaiting the final design of a new house to be put up at the old Ridge residence of former president Rawlings and his family. According to Information Minister John Tia when this is done, the government will bear the entire cost of re-constructing a befitting residence for the former first family. Mr. Tia also said former President Kufuor will soon be moving into a new office provided by government, which has been confirmed by Frank Agyekum, spokesperson of the former president. Story by Myjoyonline.com/Joy News/Ghana