Campaign by state officials running down gov’t business – Mrs Rawlings alleges

One of Ghana’s former first ladies, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, says government business in the country has ground to a halt, noting officials are now more focused on campaigning than their work.

She said instead of the officials focusing on their job to ensure government business runs effectively, they are out there campaigning for the John Mahama-led government ahead of this year’s December 7 general elections According to Mrs Agyemang-Rawlings who is the presidential nominee for the National Democratic Party, the John Mahama-led government is abusing its incumbency.

“The government is taking advantage of its position. It’s usually normal but is really stretching it. It doesn’t look good because the country is going through difficulties and it will be good to see that some people in the government working to keep the country running and then some are campaigning, not everybody out there,” she said.

Speaking on TV3’s News 360 on Monday at the station’s unveiling of its ultramodern, multipurpose television studio in Accra, Mrs Agyemang-Rawlings added: “It looks like government business is at a halt.

The unrivalled studio in Ghana Mrs Agyemang Rawlings who is currently challenging her disqualification from contesting in the presidential election, underscored the need to ensure a balanced campaign, saying “I think that there should be some fairness. At the moment there’s not.”

She also urged media practitioners to ensure balanced reportage for each of the political parties contesting in the elections “so that each party will feel a part of the democratic dispensation that is going”.

The former first lady also said it is important for all to use temperate language in the media and on political campaign platforms, especially so because young people may be listening. “You can make the same argument and come out with your dissatisfaction about whatever it is and let people understand you without using foul language,” she noted.

Meanwhile, she has described TV3’s new studio, christened: News Hub, as being “professional and very impressive”.

The studio is the first of its kind in the country and is set to give viewers a refreshing look and feel of modern news delivery with international standards.