Regional Black-Outs As J.J. Speaks

THERE was a general black-out in parts of the country yesterday, when ex-President J. J. Rawlings, appeared at the National Reconciliation Commission in Accra.

An earlier announcement that the proceedings at the Commission were to be telecast live, had sent Ghanaians throughout the country, rushing home or pitching tent at nearby TV sets to watch the performance of the ex-President.

Reports reaching us indicate that, while viewers in the whole of Volta and the Northern Regions were deprived of catching a glimpse of the former NDC leader, others in some district capitals, outside the two regions, were also denied service, especially between the hours of 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

At the Commission, itself, former President Rawlings spent less than half an hour to answer a few questions about some video and tape recordings, which, he said were not in his possession.

As the former President emerged from the main hall of the former Parliament House, the teeming crowd burst into party solidarity songs, amidst cheers of :J. J.", "j. J.".

Earlier, the hall of the Commission had been filled to capacity, with the crowd, outside far greater in size than the numbers within. The crowd followed Jerry to his house, where he thanked Ghanaians for demonstrating their solidarity with him.