Spio-Garbrah denies Daily Guide claims

Leading NDC member Ekwow Spio- Garbrah has in a statement denied Daily Guide reports that he described the 2004 NDC flagbearer Professor John Atta Mills ?as a disaster.?

Mr. Spio- Garbrah, currently Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization says the Daily Guide has failed to publish the rejoinder he sent more than a week ago.

?I am constrained to bring a copy of the rejoinder to your attention, in the hope that you would kindly give it the necessary exposure, so that readers can distinguish between what I actually said in the interview and what the Daily Guide claims I said? he said.

Please read the full text of the rejoinder

London, U.K
27th January 2006

The Editor
The Daily Guide
Accra, Ghana.

Dear Sir/Madam,

My attention has been drawn to two articles that have appeared in your paper within the last two weeks, some elements of which have been picked up by other Ghanaian media and possibly on the Internet in which some statements are inaccurately assigned to me.

Some of these statements reportedly stem from remarks I made in a television interview on Metro TV?s Good Evening Ghana hosted by Paul Adom Otchere.

In your articles, I am alleged to have called Prof. Atta Mills ?a disaster? and a ?three time-loser? of Presidential elections in Ghana. As anyone who watched the nationally televised programme can attest, I made no such statements.

What I alluded to were two schools of thought within the NDC: one, which thought Prof. Atta Mills, should be remarked again, and another, which thought, he shoul! dn?t.

I gave the reasons why each of THOSE schools of thought have given for their views, but did not associate myself with either of those views. Your reporter?s attempt to assign me to one of those groups is therefore unacceptable.

Pressed by Adom-Otchere for my own views on the Mills losses and why the NDC lost the 2004 elections, I stated quite clearly that empirical research is needed to understand what happened.

Asked by Adom-Otchere whether Prof. Mills was a good candidate, I answered favourably, calling him a fine, honest, hardworking gentleman.

I am therefore rather disturbed by the apparent attempt by your reporter or your paper to drive a wedge between Prof. Mills and/or his associates and myself.

In fact, drawn by Adom-Otchere on the issue of a Fante Confederacy, I made it clear that I had no issue with them, and if they had an issue with me, they were best placed to address it.

(Actually, I do not know who constitute the membership of this Confederacy, notwithstanding speculation as no one has ever introduced themselves to me as a Member.) I maintain excellent relations with Prof. Mills and visit him routinely each time I?m in Ghana.

Regarding the activities of a Movement proposing to promote my candidacy, again it is factually inaccurate to write that I have unveiled a Campaign of any sort.

I made it clear in the Metro TV interview (and to Prof. Mills himself) that those NDC supporters who thought another candidate should be presented other than Mills have been approaching me and others to encourage them to present themselves.

As you well know, I?m currently working full-time as head of an international organisation, and currently busy with meetings in Europe and Asia. It is untrue therefore to write that any activities of people who purport to support me constitutes a launch by me of any campaign.

I recognize that in Ghana?s currently competitive media l! andscape, some newspapers sometimes go beyond the borders of accuracy, in order to generate headlines that help to sell their copy.

I would appreciate it, however, if in light of the serious nature of the issues you are reporting on, you make a more professional effort to distinguish between what are the views of your reporter or paper, what are the views of people who may support me, and what are my own views. My views were clearly expressed during the Metro TV interview.

Any other views expressed that are not exactly what I said or inconsistent with that interview are either those of your paper or some groups who may be supporting me.

I hope therefore that Prof. Mills, his associates, other NDC faithful, those reportedly organising a bi-partisan movement to support me, and Ghanaians as a whole, can tell the difference in your reports.

I would appreciate it very much if in light of my Constitutional rights to a rejoinder, you kindly publish this letter! with suitable prominence, and without another clever headline to cause further sensation.

Sincerely, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah