Government turns down request by Rawlings

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday turn down a request by former President Jerry John Rawlings to grant him courtesies on his impending trip to Washington DC.
A letter dated September 11 and signed by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Foreign Minister, in response to the request made by Mr Victor Smith, Special Assistant to Former President Rawlings said; " it is not possible at the moment for Government to grant the requests in your letter".
The letter from the Ministry said, "government was somewhat astonished to find, however, that the former President who uses every occasion of his foreign travels to malign and denigrate publicly his successor as President of the Republic, the current government and by implication Ghana, continues to demand the extension of courtesies from government to facilitate his travels.
"It makes little sense to continue to accord courtesies to someone who persistently refuses to reciprocate them, as his recent utterances in Nigeria vividly illustrate. Accordingly, it is not possible at the moment for government to grant the requests in your letter".
Nana Akufo-Addo said the Chief of Protocol drew his attention to a letter from Mr Smith dated September 10 on the issue.
The letter sought the assistance of the Ministry in the procurement of visas for members of former President Rawlings' staff as well as the extension of "appropriate courtesies" for his travels, courtesies which government had since its assumption of office on January 7, 2001 consistently accorded him.
Mr Smith in his letter to the Ministry said former President Rawlings was expected to leave Accra on Sunday, September 14 for Washington through London to address a public event on HIV/AIDS.
The letter said he would be accompanied by Mr Smith, Festus Akoto, a security officer and Miss Enyonam Anku, an Aide to Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, former First Lady, who would join the entourage in London to the US.
It said Mr Smith, Akoto and Miss Anku required visa renewals for the US and it would be appreciated if the Ministry could assist urgently in the request.
"As always, it would be appreciated if appropriate courtesies could be extended to former President Rawlings. Accept, Honourable Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration", it said.

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday turn down a request by former President Jerry John Rawlings to grant him courtesies on his impending trip to Washington DC.
A letter dated September 11 and signed by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Foreign Minister, in response to the request made by Mr Victor Smith, Special Assistant to Former President Rawlings said; " it is not possible at the moment for Government to grant the requests in your letter".
The letter from the Ministry said, "government was somewhat astonished to find, however, that the former President who uses every occasion of his foreign travels to malign and denigrate publicly his successor as President of the Republic, the current government and by implication Ghana, continues to demand the extension of courtesies from government to facilitate his travels.
"It makes little sense to continue to accord courtesies to someone who persistently refuses to reciprocate them, as his recent utterances in Nigeria vividly illustrate. Accordingly, it is not possible at the moment for government to grant the requests in your letter".
Nana Akufo-Addo said the Chief of Protocol drew his attention to a letter from Mr Smith dated September 10 on the issue.
The letter sought the assistance of the Ministry in the procurement of visas for members of former President Rawlings' staff as well as the extension of "appropriate courtesies" for his travels, courtesies which government had since its assumption of office on January 7, 2001 consistently accorded him.
Mr Smith in his letter to the Ministry said former President Rawlings was expected to leave Accra on Sunday, September 14 for Washington through London to address a public event on HIV/AIDS.
The letter said he would be accompanied by Mr Smith, Festus Akoto, a security officer and Miss Enyonam Anku, an Aide to Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, former First Lady, who would join the entourage in London to the US.
It said Mr Smith, Akoto and Miss Anku required visa renewals for the US and it would be appreciated if the Ministry could assist urgently in the request.
"As always, it would be appreciated if appropriate courtesies could be extended to former President Rawlings. Accept, Honourable Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration", it said.