Ghana: Ex-president punches Atta-Mills

  1. Posted on Thursday 15 January 2009 - 10:00
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    Kent Mensah, AfricaNews editor in Accra, Ghana
    Former president J.J Rawlings is not happy his ally and incumbent Atta-Mills ordered local government officials of the past NPP regime to remain at post pending new appointments. He said there is no room for diplomacy because Kufuor booted his men out "like criminals" after handing over in 2001.
    jerry rawlings
    Speaking to party officials at his residence in the capital Accra, Rawlings said the people voted for change and that extends to change of all officials of the previous Kufuor administration. He said the people feel betrayed if those officials still remain at post. “To pluck out Kufuor and leave everything behind, is courting potential disaster,” he said.

    Rawlings added: “Why are the District Chief Executives in place and in some cases tormenting our people using government machinery on the ground.”

    “Are we also displaying such distrust and fear of people's power? And yet it's the people's power that liberated us. It must be allowed to consolidate.”

    The former military dictator turned democrat and ruled for two terms alleged that functionaries of the erstwhile NPP government are shredding vital documents and dismissing NDC sympathizers.

    He queried: “Are we in power or not, have we taken over or not. They matched us out when you and I have committed no crime. They who have committed crimes and today we have been vindicated by our sense of vigilance we don’t even…what kind of diplomacy is this?”

    Rawlings’ assertions have been met with mixed reactions from party officials. While others feel he is entitled to his opinion others feel he is putting undue pressure on the new president.

    “President Mills is a calm man and things are going on as planned. We are not under any undue pressure,” Spokesperson for the government transition team, Hannah Tetteh-Kpoda told a local radio station.

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