Kufuor blasts Rawlings, says he is a hypocrite

Ex-Presidents Kufuor and Rawlings         Former President John Agyekum Kufuor says ex-president Rawlings is quick at mounting the rooftops to proclaim that people are corrupt as if “he is a living saint”. But Mr Kufuor believes that Rawlings “a lot of the time sounds hypocritical”. “I don’t think serious people should use him (Rawlings) as a measure of righteousness in our society” he stated. Mr Kufuor, whom during his presidency, withdrew ex-president Rawlings’ courtesies for what he considered offensive comments in the international press, was ironically blasting his predecessor in an international magazine - Africa Watch Magazine. CONTROL FREAK In the interview dubbed “enough is enough”, former President Kufuor sought to portray his predecessor as a control freak who will run people down if he doesn’t get his way whilst portraying himself as a gentle giant. Recalling the antecedents which led to the sour relationship which currently exist between the only surviving ex-presidents, Kufuor said, at the time he became president, the relationship between him and Rawlings wasn’t as bad as it is today, until he one day turned down rampant summons from Rawlings to meet him at places predetermined by him (Rawlings). “When I assumed office, the first two months, things seemed to be all right, until every now and then he would send an emissary to tell me to meet him at some place. It happened, first, second and a third time. The first three I obliged but the fourth time, I sent the person back to tell him I would not meet him anywhere but at the Presidency” he stated. Mr Kufuor said, it was after he turned down Rawlings’ rampant summons for meetings that “he started raining abuses on me and it continued through the eight years that I was in power, going as far as to compare me with Ataa Ayi. What is he up to, I can’t understand.” According to Mr Kufuor, before he assumed power, it was his intension to respect Mr Rawlings, the same way he wanted to be respected once he left power, but things went bad because of Rawlings’ tendency to yell insults at him. ZERO TOLERANCE When asked why people like former President Rawlings and his own party man, Kwame Piannim perceive his government as corrupt despite his “Zero Tolerance of corruption” mantra, he said Kwame Piannim left the NPP before he [Kufuor] became president. “Kwame Piannim resigned from the NPP. Later on he tried to come back and people perhaps thought he still is one of us. The truth is that he didn’t work in my government. He is a respected person and apparently he is quite close to President Mills. I know him but he wasn’t in my team” he said. But an independent investigation by The Enquirer newspaper suggests that Mr Piannim indeed worked in the Kufuor government after he was appointed as chairman of the Public Utilities and Regulation Commission (PURC). On the issue of Zero Tolerance for Corruption, Mr. Kufuor said “When I talked of Zero Tolerance for Corruption, I meant it and that is why we enacted so many laws on it-like the one on Public Procurement, where the biggest corruption in government lies.” “So we said beyond a certain low threshold of procurement, everything must go for open tender and the procurement authority should be independent. And that is what is operating now. We improved the conditions of service for the judiciary and empowered them to do their work without fear or favor, we also tried to modernize the court system and so many laws we put in place to curb corruption.” He further observed. Ironically, even though the Kufuor administration spearheaded the enactment of the public procurement laws, most of the major procurement under his government did not follow the procurement law. Source: The Enquirer

Rawlings tells NDC youth – Let the government know the truth

Ex-President Rawlings during the meeting Former President and founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has called on the youth of the party not to allow their sense of what is right to go waste. Speaking at youth forum organised by the Youth Wing of the party at Ho last Saturday, he lamented the failure of the NDC government to tap the adrenalin that came with the early 2009 victory leading to the increased confidence of persons who perpetuated wrongs during the New Patriotic Party regime. The founder of the NDC said there is an unfortunate disquiet within the country and the youth had to be bold and state the obvious. “If you lose your courage, we’ve had it. Be bold in saying what the reality is. “Today we are contending with some of these NPP characters misbehaving at various institutions. With the way things are going what are you going to tell the people when 2012 is approaching so they can take you seriously to retain power? He asked. The former President said nature had a way of correcting itself and will do so if the NDC failed to take the right actions. “The NPP expropriated the resources of this country. Tema Harbour was literally split down and taken. Can we not take action to redress the rot? Can we not investigate or re-investigate these wrongs? “Do not sleep; you must be thinking twenty four hours daily. The NPP does not sleep. It is easy to rule a people if you can divide them like the NPP did. It is only easy to rule a united people if you can give integrity throughout. A united nation has a sense of purpose – a sense of mission. “They cheated in 2004 and we allowed it. They tried again in 2008 but the people will not allow it. If we do not right the wrongs and economic pain sets in, our people will not be able to contain it. But if we are seen to be correcting the wrongs, doing the right thing, then when the economic pain sets in the people will be able to accommodate it,” the NDC founder said. Former President Rawlings said the NDC is a very special phenomenon that came out of the PNDC and AFRC and questioned how many of the youth of the party will report to the President on the negative happenings on the ground. “How many of you will for instance report the poor performance of District Chief Executives. Forty percent of them are under-performing. Some of them are outright incompetent. “If you the youth see things and do not say it and I say it then I become an easy target all the time. But the reality of what I say is out there and you have to voice it out,” the former President said. Former President Rawlings said the youth had a responsibility to guide government with the truth because the government is in power because of the electorate and not vice-versa. Touching on recent elections at all levels of the party, the former President said there were too many unacceptable issues with the conduct. “When the people elected do not have the heart of the people there is no way they will fight for such a person. Our party does not survive on money but on our beliefs. People have shed their blood to restore integrity back into the country - integrity that dissipated under the NPP regime. Unfortunately we have allowed the heat of the election victory to slip away.” The former President wondered why the NPP was bold enough to hold its Congress at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium while the NDC barricaded itself into an indoor venue and prevented the masses from partaking in the process. The NDC as a mass-based party, the founder noted, cannot succeed if it does not correct the dislocation within the major institutions of state. We have to submit to the will of the people or we will not make it. He lamented the failure of the government to re-investigate some of the persecution that took place within the armed forces and other agencies. He said he counselled the President to recall soldiers who had been wrongfully dismissed or retired from the forces but he was told not to do so by one of his advisors who said recalls were done only during war or state of emergency. “So I asked myself does the President not realise we have a state of emergency on our hands? I stated that it did not have to be a forced recall but a voluntary one. Nothing happened since but today some of our finest soldiers are being processed to be thrown out.” The NDC founder called on President Mills not to listen only to reports from his security apparatus but also from recognised interest groups so that he will know the realistic picture of what is happening on the ground. “Let the government know the reality on the ground. That is the responsibility I am giving you,” he charged the youth of the party. Credit:http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com

Nana jabs Mills; Is this the better Ghana?

Nana Akufo-Addo The 2008 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has added his voice to that of millions questioning the competence of the Atta Mills administration and at the same time calling for relief from the harsh socio-economic conditions they currently find themselves in. This was when he made an unan nounced visit to Bukom in the Gamashie area, his birth place in the Odododiodoo Constituency on Wednes­day where the constituency executives Were holding a meeting. The meeting virtually came to a stand-still when Nana Addo arrived, as residents as well as party members surged forward to embrace him. When he had the opportunity to address the crowd, Nana Addo asked whether anybody in Ghana today has begun feeling the Better Ghana prom ised by Atta Mills while in opposition. "Is this the Better Ghana we were promised, when there is so much hunger and deprivation in our country today?" he asked, prompting the people to yell, No!' The former Foreign Affairs Minis ter noted that the NPP is the only political party that is capable of elevating the standard of living of the Ghanaian peo ple. He refuted claims of a misunders tanding between him and Alan Kyere maten, his closest contender in the 2007 NPP presidential race. "Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen are not fighting. It is a mat ter of competition for a certain vacant position in our party and I believe that as has been the tradition of our party, the elected candidate will be supported by all NPP members. Our critics are working hard to give an erroneous impres sion that we are at war with each other in our party, but the peaceful outcome of recent executive elections is enough indication that the NPP is today stronger and united as ever and can therefore not be a party in turmoil." "When the NDC comes after us, sacking our people from office, harassing and assaulting us, they don't ask whether you support Nana Addo or Alan Kyerematen. They see us as NPP, and so we should thus see ourselves as such and continue to stand as a united party", he said. Nana Addo also explained the rea son why he supported the expansion of the electoral college of the party, saying that "it is the grassroots of our party that is capable of propelling us back to power in 2012. He gave the strongest indication of his intention to run for the position of Presidential Candidate of the NPP in order to lead the party to wrestle power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2012 general elections. "The flagbearer contest is near, I beg God and all NPP members that as you did for me in 2007, do it for me again in 2010, so that we can begin the reconstruction of our country in 2012 and put our country back on a sound economic pedestal to ensure that the Ghanaian people are taken out of the current predicaments and pain that the NDC is inflicting on us." Nana Addo seized the opportunity to congratulate the constituency and polling station executives for their dedication and commitment to the cause of the party over the years. Describing Bukom as his birthplace, Nana said: "I am extremely comfortable anytime I come to Gamashie because this is my home; this is where I was born. The spirit here today tells me that the NPP is fully charged and ever ready for the 2012 general elections, and I plead with all of you to maintain the high spirits as we prepare for the con test ahead of us." Responding, the constituency organiser, Nii Ofuli Tei, thanked Nana on behalf of the constituents and gave Nana the assurance that he will be given the responsibility of leading the NPP to the 2012 election and subsequently the nod of leading the country by the year 2013. He however pleaded with Nana Addo not to forget them when he gets to the Jubilee House. Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the party, Nii Adjei Sowah, remarked that "Nana's surprise visit has really touched all of us and we assure you that during the primaries, we will not forget you." He thus encouraged Nana Addo to remain resilient and strong and not give up his dreams and aspirations, saying, "I lost out to be Member of Parliament" for this constituency but never gave up and today I am the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of our party. We wi II also not give up on Nana; we will go with him again." Ghana's former Ambassador to Ser bia and Montenegro, Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, who was in the company of Nana Addo, called for the immediate resigna tion of the Attorney General, Betty Mould-Idrissu, for "telling the people of this country serious lies. She sat on radio and lied that Nana hounded her out of office when he was Attorney General". According to him, "the subsequent release from Nana's office revealed her as a liar. The Attorney General made a sad mistake when she at1empted to vent' her frustration on the elephant himself, and I will advise her to look for a small er 1ish next time." Source: Daily Guide

NDC gov't taking away sense of hope - Rawlings

Former President, Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, says he does not know the message of hope to deliver to Ghanaians in the 2012 election because of the inability of the NDC government to offer hope to the people.In a press statement issued Wednesday, he wondered why people see his criticism of President Mills as a personality clash.Mr Rawlings, who is also the founder of the NDC, has since 2000 endorsed the candidature of president J.E.A Mills.He was also at the forefront of the NDC campaign trail during the 2008 general elections.

According to Mr Rawlings, “The best hope we could have given the people was to give them back the justice they lost in the previous regime. I have mentioned poor enquiries in the Mobilla and other cases and called for more thorough investigations.”He further stated that “the sad thing is that when I criticize, they make it a Rawlings versus Mills issue.”

Mr Rawlings made these statements during a courtesy call on him by a delegation of Chiefs, Members of Parliament, Regional Ministers, DCE’s and other identifiable groups from the Upper West Region.He expressed his gratefulness to the chiefs for sympathizing with his family “over the destruction of our residence by fire,” adding that “what pains me most is the current state of Ghana".“I wish I could put you back on the bus and send you to the Castle to ask the President a few questions. I do not know the message of hope he can give the people at the next campaign,” he remarked, saying that what is happening - the state of affairs in the country - is taking away the sense of hope.He warned the Mills government would be deserted by the rank and file of the party if it does not act appropriately.

The former President said it was imperative that thorough investigations is made into all the shady deals made by the erstwhile NPP government, ensuring that the criminals are prosecuted.”We need to wake up and let the government know what is going wrong. If we keep quiet we shall regret tomorrow for our silence. We will suffer more pain than we did in the eight years prior to 2009,” the former president insisted, adding that “the NDC derives its strength from a united people; NPP derives its strength from a disunited people,” he added. The Mole Naa presenting some smocks to the former first family.

A Council of State member Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, who was part of delegation, noted that the Upper West Region owed a lot of gratitude to the former President for the efforts he put into the creation of the region and the extension of electricity there when all the experts thought it was impossible.

The delegation presented the former first couple with gifts. Other members of the delegation included the Mole Naa, Bole Naa, Jirapa Naa known in private life as Mr Peter Nanfuri, Minister for Works and Housing Alban Bagbin, Deputy Majority Leader Rashid Pelpuo, Regional Minister Mahmud Khalid and NDC Regional Chairman Alhaji Malik Issahaku.Former First Lady, President and Deputy Chairman of the NDC, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, thanked the delegation for showing of love, warmth, solidarity and kindness towards her family.

Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Rawlings denies being offered Francis Poku's house

Rawlings' Ridge residence got consumed by fire last month The office of ex-president Rawlings has denied media reports that millions of Ghana Cedis is being expended to renovate a government bungalow for Mr Rawlings. An aide to Mr. Rawlings, Kofi Adams told Joy News there was no iota of truth in the report. The Daily Searchlight newspaper reported that the government had given the residence of former National Security Co-ordinator, Francis Poku to the former first couple and was spending huge sums of money to renovate the place. But Kofi Adams denies the report. He said the former president was unaware of any building having been allocated to him since his Ridge residence got consumed by fire last month. Kofi Adams said Mr Rawlings and his wife had been perching with his mother-in-law. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Wake Up Mills

President J.E.A. Mills Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday called on the Mills Administration to either wake up to its responsibilities or risk losing the 2012 general elections. “The Mills Administration and the security agencies need to do better than they are doing now, otherwise the 2012 general elections will elude us,” he said, when Dr Ahmed Mustapha, Member of Parliament for East Ayawaso, led a delegation of chiefs and party members to sympathize with the former first family after losing their house and property to fire. The former President also criticized the government for not acting swiftly to ascertain the cause of fire outbreaks at the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Information and other important places that had been gutted by fire. He said he was surprised to hear that Nana Darkwa Baafi, an activist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had suggested on an Accra radio station that he could be responsible for the burning of his own house. “The boy went on air to say all these to confuse the public on the cause of the fire and may God forgive him. How can I intentionally burn my own house to kill my wife and daughter?” Former President Rawlings said documents and things lost through the fire outbreak were more enormous than the structure and cautioned the public against making unfounded allegations when the security agencies were yet to come out with their findings. He called on the security agencies to adopt measures that would prevent the public from taking the law into their own hands as that had the potential of destabilizing the country. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the former first lady, said although the family was aware of the freedoms that Ghanaians wielded in respect of their constitutional rights, such freedoms should go alongside responsibilities to protect total human rights. She said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was a serious party and would not engage in negative activities that would make life uncomfortable for Ghanaians. Dr Mustapha called for unity among the rank and file of the party as that was necessary for them to win the 2012 elections and retain power. The Member of Parliament, who also donated assorted soft drinks and a ram to the former first family, called on party members not to engage in issues that would spark violence and chaos. Source: GNA

President Mills expresses concern over radio commentator's remand

Nana Darkwa President John Evans Atta Mills has expressed concern over a two week remand custody handed a radio commentator, Nana Darkwa, by a circuit court on Thursday. Nana Darkwa was placed in prison custody following his arrest by the police after he accused former President Jerry Rawlings of burning his own house. A statement issued by the Ministry of Information quoted President Mills as assuring the citizenry of his unflinching respect for the rule of law and the principles of separation of powers and the independence of the Judiciary and stressed the need for a balance between responsible citizenship and the right to free expression. "The judiciary has a huge responsibility in promoting this balance in the nurturing of democratic governance," President Mills is quoted as saying. President Mills also reiterated his belief in good governance, the rule of law and his commitment to creating a better Ghana with opportunities for all within an environment of unfettered protection of the citizen's rights to free expression. The statement, signed by Deputy Minister for Information, James Agyenim-Boateng, said the president reminded the public to exercise their rights responsibly.

Rawlings family vacate burnt down Ridge residence

Watch photos of Rawlings' gutted residence

Last Updated: Sunday, 14 February 2010, 16:19 GMT Previous Page

The entire house of former president Jerry Rawlings at Ridge was gutted completely, and according to Kofi Adams, aide to the former president, nothing whatsoever was salvaged from the house. Former President Rawlings is seen leaving his gutted house at Ridge, Accra The former President, Jerry John Rawlings, and family have left their completely burnt residence at Ridge to an unknown destination about 9:30 Sunday morning. According to Joy News' Seth Kwame Boateng the former first family were in a Land Cruiser being driven by Mr. Rawlings himself. Even though people around him were worried and advised that he gets a driver to chauffeur him because of his situation, the former president was adamant and insisted he would drive. However, scores of cars followed him whilst he left the house towards the unknown destination. The special aide to the former president Kofi Adams says alternative accommodation is being sought for the former first couple "at a safe place". The residence of former president Jerry Rawlings at Ridge, Accra, was gutted completely by fire on Sunday around 4:00am. The entire house is gone completely, and according to Kofi Adams, nothing whatsoever was salvaged from the house. President J.E.A. Mills, government officials and members of the NDC visited the former president and family to share their loss. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana