News:
April 18, 2011
The Minister of State at the Presidency, John Gyetuah has dismissed reports that government intends to “buy” the former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings out of the impending NDC flag bearer race.
The Crusading Guide newspaper edition of today Monday 18th April 2011, alleges that the government and other high ranking party officials have planned a “juicy” proposal to Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings that will compel her to back down on her intention to contest Professor Mills.
Among the offers being proposed, according to the source, would be to give a company (name withheld for now) jointly set up by the Former First Lady and three of his children, some lucrative commercial and consultancy opportunities in the aviation, ports, oil and gas sectors.
There is also a proposal to increase the Ghanaian government’s commitment to facilitating and enhancing the development of the CALF Cocoa Factory jointly owned by the 31st December Women’s Movement commercial wing, CARIDEM and a private Chinese company, by requesting more Chinese government funding in addition to some appreciable level of State support for the project.
The resignation of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings as Vice Chairperson of the ruling NDC party last week, to enable her contest President Mills in the party’s congress in July 2011, was greeted with a lot of hue and cry as it has never happen in Ghanaian political history that a sitting President will be challenged by a party member in the party’s flag bearer contest.
However speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme on Monday, the Minister of State at the Presidency, John Gyetuah stated that the story must be dismissed with the contempt that it deserved as government will not do any such thing.
“President Mills is not afraid of contest, he is a democrat who welcomes competition and he will not coerce any politicians to back down on his or her political ambitions’’ he said.
Hon. John Gyetuah who is also the Member of Parliament for Amenfi West, stated that Nana Konadu will not be bribed by awarding her contracts to let her step down from the race when she does not merit those contracts.
“Nana Konadu is just like any other Ghanaian and she will be awarded contracts based on her merit and competence’’ he noted.
Story by: Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh