Hackman did not know he was being taped

The Voice says it has gathered that Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyeman is now sweating and cursing his stars for openly castigating former President Rawlings.

In an interview, Hon John Achuliwor, MP for Navrongo Central and Deputy Minister of Roads and Communications admitted that the Hon Hackman Owusu Agyeman never knew and never even realised that he was being recorded otherwise he would have been more diplomatic and tactful.

He said, it was normal for Hackman to respond but the way it was done would have been the least of Hackman and blamed the outburst on the journalist who interviewed him.

Hon Achuliwor said, as human beings they can have a lot of patience but one in a while they could also lose it, adding "we all have two sides to our lives. We have the diplomatic bit that normally we have to play and sometimes you can also lose your temper because we are also human beings".

He said Hon Hackman should be worried because the statement he thought he was making in private is now being blown on the airwaves causing the public to doubt his gentlemanly nature.

The Deputy Minister, however, justified the response by Ms Ohene and Hon Hackman saying, "you don't accuse somebody and expect him or her to keep quiet. He too has the right to be heard."

Meanwhile, the Minority leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has sharply condemned Hackman's response and threat describing it as unnecessary.

He said that not even President Kufuor could strip off the privileges that ex-President Rawlings is enjoying let alone Hon Hackman, adding "those privileges are bequeathed to any ex-President by the people of Ghana and are irrevocable unless by the same people through their representatives in parliament".