Deputy Minister Vows to Lead Demo

To counter 'Wahala' March

The Brong Ahafo Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has announced that he would lead a counter demonstration against the "Wahala" march, organized by the minority and Committee for Joint Action (CJA), which led to the comparison of President Kufuor to the notorious robber, Ataa-Ayi by ex-President Rawlings.

He made this known during the People's Assembly held at Drobo in the Jaman South District of the Brong Ahafo Region when addressing a question on the fuel price and the way to reconcile President Kufuor and Mr. Rawlings.

According to him, he was expecting the peace loving Ghanaians to embark on a counter demonstration against the "Wahala" group but unfortunately, this had not happened.

On reconciling the former and the sitting presidents, Mr. Baffour Awuah said Ghanaians should know that there is only one president in the country who needed to be given due respect, adding that even though freedom of expression exists in the country, it does not trespass to the extent of defaming the characters of others.

He said it was rather unfortunate for the ex-President to come out with that comparison between the notorious armed robber and the President in the midst of such a crowd, adding that it was a sign of disrespect to the office of the Presidency, which he, the former President once occupied.

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Forestry, Mr. Agyei Yeboah, who was also present, added that President Kufuor had been so quiet and gentle in the face of such comments, to avoid any embarrassment and that was why he openly apologized to the whole country when he offended the ex-President at Takoradi.

He stressed that President Kufuor, as the leader of the country, took the respect he received from the people as a responsibility but former President Rawlings does not acknowledge the honour given him as a statesman.

Mr. Agyei Yeboah disclosed that a lot of efforts had been made, but Mr. Rawlings always tried to gain the people's attention with some awful comments against the office of the presidency, which indicated that he was not for reconciliation.

He said Ghanaians were lucky to have a president who is mindful and tolerant enough to control his temper in order not to create violence and tension in the country, but advised the public, especially the bootlickers of the two, not to inflame passions that would create chaos.

The people of Drobo raised concerns over the issue of the Sudanese who intruded into the country recently, claiming they were refugees.

They wondered whether it was not a threat to the security of the nation.

They suggested also that the Ministry of Defense should sit up since this incident indicated that our borders are porous in nature, which is dangerous, and a threat to our peaceful Ghana.

The Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi, who led the delegation, assured that government would screen those Sudanese who had unlawfully found their way into the country for the necessary measures to be taken.

The security on the country's borders would be strengthened for effective monitoring of such immigrants, he added.