Iraq Crisis Fallout: Prez Spokesman In Trouble

...Govt Supports War, with or without UN Backing?
Presidential Spokesman, Kwabena Agyepong has incurred the displeasure of his boss by denying reports that President Kufuor had pledged Ghana’s support for the US led war against Iraq. Tuesday’s edition of the Palaver newspaper carried a story which said Ghana had joined a list of other African countries who have given their support for the imminent of Iraq by the US and British forces.

But Presidential spokesman, Kwabena Agyepong denied the story on JOY FM’s Morning Show when asked if Ghana indeed supported the war. That denial did not go down too well with the office of the President. Chief of Staff, Kojo Mpianim issued a statement late Tuesday night condemning Mr Agyepong’s denial.

The Palaver story sought to create the impression that contrary to appeals the world over for the US and Britain to relegate the mandate to attack Iraq to the UN, the Ghana government led by President Kufuor was in favor of war on Iraq.

The story cited the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania as some of the other countries supporting the invasion of Iraq with or without approval from the UN Security Council.

President Kufuor was said to have telephoned the White House to pledge support for US and British plans to launch a military strike against Saddam Hussein. He was also quoted by the Palaver to have offered to use his influence as ECOWAS Chairman to ensure that Guinea, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and its current President votes against Iraq if the matter is put to vote at the Council.

But the Presidential Spokesman’s denial of these happenings seems to have upset big wigs in the Office of the President.

The Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpianim issued a statement late Tuesday evening saying his attention had been drawn to the Presidential Spokesman’s comments on the matter, as well as the cancellation of the President’s state visit to the UK.

Mr. Mpianim said Mr. Agyepong’s statements were made without consulting the President or government. Neither did he have the authority to make that statement.

Even before the import of the statement sinks in, questions are being asked as to whether the spokesman’s denial contradicts what the President actually did.

But the swift action from the castle, still leaves the question about whether Ghana supports America unanswered.

The full list of countries supporting US released by US state department:

Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (post conflict), South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Britain, Uzbekistan.

...Govt Supports War, with or without UN Backing?
Presidential Spokesman, Kwabena Agyepong has incurred the displeasure of his boss by denying reports that President Kufuor had pledged Ghana’s support for the US led war against Iraq. Tuesday’s edition of the Palaver newspaper carried a story which said Ghana had joined a list of other African countries who have given their support for the imminent of Iraq by the US and British forces.

But Presidential spokesman, Kwabena Agyepong denied the story on JOY FM’s Morning Show when asked if Ghana indeed supported the war. That denial did not go down too well with the office of the President. Chief of Staff, Kojo Mpianim issued a statement late Tuesday night condemning Mr Agyepong’s denial.

The Palaver story sought to create the impression that contrary to appeals the world over for the US and Britain to relegate the mandate to attack Iraq to the UN, the Ghana government led by President Kufuor was in favor of war on Iraq.

The story cited the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania as some of the other countries supporting the invasion of Iraq with or without approval from the UN Security Council.

President Kufuor was said to have telephoned the White House to pledge support for US and British plans to launch a military strike against Saddam Hussein. He was also quoted by the Palaver to have offered to use his influence as ECOWAS Chairman to ensure that Guinea, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and its current President votes against Iraq if the matter is put to vote at the Council.

But the Presidential Spokesman’s denial of these happenings seems to have upset big wigs in the Office of the President.

The Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpianim issued a statement late Tuesday evening saying his attention had been drawn to the Presidential Spokesman’s comments on the matter, as well as the cancellation of the President’s state visit to the UK.

Mr. Mpianim said Mr. Agyepong’s statements were made without consulting the President or government. Neither did he have the authority to make that statement.

Even before the import of the statement sinks in, questions are being asked as to whether the spokesman’s denial contradicts what the President actually did.

But the swift action from the castle, still leaves the question about whether Ghana supports America unanswered.

The full list of countries supporting US released by US state department:

Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (post conflict), South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Britain, Uzbekistan.