Council of State and NPP MPs show solidarity with President Kufuor

Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor continue to receive public outpouring of sympathy, solidarity and well-wishes after his escape in the November 14, car crash on the Airport-37 Road in Accra.

Members of the Council of State, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Caucus and a 40-member delegation of Queen mothers from the Adansi Traditional Area were among the latest groups to call on him at the Castle, Osu, to show solidarity. President Kufuor came out unhurt when, a speeding Benz Elegance saloon car rammed into the vehicle carrying him on his normal drive from the House to the Castle.

Running through the messages of the delegations were the expression of shock and panic at the bizarre accident and gratefulness to God for the life of the President.

Professor Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, Chairman of the Council of State, said news about the accident put the whole nation on tenterhooks. Ghanaians, he said, were wondering what the country's administration would have been.

President Kufuor, who thanked members of the Council for their concern, said he did not want to describe what befell him. He said it was definitely an act of God that he came out unscathed and that he would continue to thank God for this.

At the turn of the Parliamentary Caucus, Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, the Majority Leader, said the car crash sent panic across the entire nation. "The House was shocked. "We are marvelled how you escaped unhurt. We thank God for your health." He used the occasion to assure President Kufuor that work in the House was being conducted in a serene atmosphere, adding, the party was poised for the debate of the Government's financial statement, the budget, and its subsequent passage.

President Kufuor said the fact that Parliament was discharging its functions without excessive partisanship showed that Ghana's parliamentary democracy was working properly.

A solid, self-confident Parliament, treating bills sent to it by the Executive with objectivity, he said, was crucial for the strengthening of constitutional democracy. He said he was particularly happy about the assurance that the majority side was well focused to work well on programmes brought before the House.

President Kufuor said although not all of them may hold ministerial appointments it was good to always have the Government on their side in a multi-party democracy.

He said it should therefore be their function to protect, promote and sustain the good policies of the Government.

He reminded them that it was on account of their good work that the people would return them to Parliament and Government. President Kufuor counselled them to hold together as one family, no matter the differences of opinion they might hold at times. When they called, the Queen mothers said they were disturbed by the accident and they thanked God for the protection of the President. Nana Kwantwiwaah Ampomah II, Adansihemaa, who led the delegation, also conveyed their gratefulness to the Government for the creation of the Adansi North District.

President Kufuor said he was deeply touched by the outpouring of sympathy and solidarity. 20 Nov. 2007