National Security Chase Kufuor!

.Out Of His Office As Okudzeto Lies Again!

The National Security set-up, using the drummed up claims of a 'safe house', has finally managed to chase former President John Agyekum Kufuor out of the building he had set aside to use as his offices upon retirement. After months of what many describe as stage-managed incessant noise making, demonstrations and banishment from stepping on any Osu stool land, Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday morning handed over keys to the state bungalow at Ridge he occupied as an office complex to National Security officers. This was after people in the National Security Set-up had called on ambassador D.K. Osei, former Secretary to President Kufuor to ensure that the keys to the building are handed over within twenty-four hours. Meanwhile Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, has been caught in another lie from his ministry after he told various radio stations that government was in talks with the former President on a new house to be allocated to him.

According to Mr. Frank Agyekum, the Spokesperson to President Kufuor, no such approaches has been made!

Yesterday, Mr. Frank Agyekum said that Mr. Kufuor was leaving the office after his personal secretary Ambassador DK Osei received a call from the National Security on Monday informing him of their preparedness to take over the property the following day.

He however said that the ex-President Kufuor would continue to operate from his home until parliament approves the conditions of his retirement, which would include a new office.

The former president's occupation of the building engendered tart public debates as parties took sides to either chastise him for taking national property allegedly without following proper procedure or defend his action because he deserved it and that the state was going to provide him an office any way.

Several groups, including the Ga-Dangme Youth, Minority in Parliament, Ga-Dangme Forward Movement, Osu Traditional Council and the Patriots for the Protection of Western Region Heritage all joined in the debate over the propriety or otherwise of the acquisition.

Things got worse to the extend that one family also from Osu area claimed ownership of the parcel of land on which the building was situated thereby stating the family's willingness to allow the ex-president to use the facility. National Security Co-ordinator, Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey had previously told Joy, an Accra Based radio station during the brouhaha that the building belonged to his outfit and questioned the former president's automatic right to it. The office which was described as a National Security Safe house was once occupied by a former NDC functionary before the late Hawa Yakubu.

In reaction to this development, one of the many Deputies at the Information Ministry, Samuel Okudzeto said the government has already acquired a new office for the ex- president at the plush Airport residential area which is closer to the house of President Kufuor. He however said that the government cannot forced it on the ex-president and the decision to accept it all depends on him especially coming on the heels of his rejection of the cars sent to him.