Ghana's immediate past President, Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings stunned The Crusading Guide when he, in a gentle, receptive and cordial mood, registered his disapproval of what he termed "the garbage published by Kweku Baako Jnr., editor of the paper and Freddie Blay, Publisher of the Daily Guide and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament".
Ex-President Rawlings, according to The Crusading Guide, had been reached on telephone for an interview at about 3.30 pm before the paper went to bed. "I am sorry I can't talk to you, Mr Anas, I do not have any problem with you in person but your paper publishes garbage. I have no respect for your paper", Rawlings said in a rather cool and collected manner after the paper’s reporter had introduced himself and his paper.
"Who is your editor"? ex-President Rawlings reportedly quizzed. When he was told that Kweku Baako Jnr. edits the paper, he retorted that, "Baako and Blay publish filth", adding that he would therefore not want to grant any of those papers an interview.
"I am sorry I can't talk to you. If you were working for another paper I would have done so but your paper and Blay's paper (The Daily Guide) publish filth, no Mr Anas. I respect you but I can't do that", he said in a rather friendly fashion.
Pressed further to rescind his position, Rawlings remained adamant and advised that the reporter should talk to Mr Victor Smith, formerly of the officer of the 31st December Women’s Movement. .
The paper says the ex-president hanged up after he had in a fatherly tone said "goodbye Anas, God bless.
The Crusading Guide had called the ex-President for his reaction to the press confab by Tsatsu Tsikata, ex-Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), held last Thursday, to deny allegations leveled against him (Tsatsu) and his Management of the GNPC over the last 15 years or so, by the Energy Minister, Kan Dapaah.
