Former Government Officials Should Not Throw Their Weight About

President Agyekum Kufuor in his historic press briefing yesterday gave broad hints that ex-President Jerry John Rawlings could be prosecuted if found culpable in the ongoing probes set in motion by the government.

"All over the world former presidents are being prosecuted and nobody is above the law," he said, adding that the laws of the land are supreme.

Kufuor also reiterated his early decision on President Rawlings that he will be accorded all the niceties required as a former president on condition that he stays within the confines of the law Answering questions from journalists, he said that the NPP and NDC are not at war and urged them to conduct civil politics because his administration will not entertain excesses.

The President also admonished the ex-NDC ministers not to throw their weight about because his administration is operating under the rule of law and would prosecute anybody found liable in accordance with the due process of law. Explaining that at the end of his term as president of Ghana he, Kufuor, will also be expected to be accorded all the respect as a former head of state, Kufuor, flanked by his Vice- President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister for Media Relations, and other ministers, said that his government has already acquired funds from donor countries to begin in-depth investigations into some top financial institutions in the country. Kufuor, who said his administration believes in teamwork, invited Mr. Osafo Maafo, Minister of Finance, to throw more light on the decision to probe some financial institutions.

He disclosed that he had set up an office at his ministry for people to report cases of corruption, and that the response was encouraging. Kufuor explained that the heads of some financial institutions were asked to proceed on leave to allow those auditing the institutions to have free access to documents. He said for proper investigations to be conducted into these financial institutions for alleged massive financial malpractices, it was essential for the heads to go on leave because their continued presence as heads of those institutions would not allow the auditors to conduct accurate investigations because they would interfere in the investigations.

The President also assured the whole country that the probes will not in any way interfere with the day-to-day running of the country and that security agencies responsible for investigations and prosecution will be strengthened to do their constitutional duty. Kufuor therefore assured the nation that the probes will be done quietly and discreetly without any dramatisation and that anyone found wanting will be swiftly handed over to the police for prosecution. He said that the Judiciary would be equipped by his government to dispense justice without fear or favour to all manner of people. He further intimated that those whose offences are not criminal would be reprimanded publicly.