JAK's "Evil Forces" Turn On Him

The Minority in Parliament has described as regrettable, a recent reference by President John Agyekum Kufuor to opponents and critics of his government as "evil forces". The President who was addressing his Ministers at a workshop on Friday expressed dissatisfaction at their poor performance in defending government policies. He criticized the Information Ministry in particular for its handling of the controversy surrounding the importation of Peugeot cars from Nigeria for the police and declared that if that Ministry was not up and doing, "evil forces in the system will knock us about, subvert us and bring grief to the people of Ghana".

A statement issued by the Minority said the President’s comments was an apparent reference to the Minority and sections of the media, which have in recent times strongly raised voices against the non-transparent manner in which the government handled the police Peugeot deal.

"The Minority reminds the President and people of like minds that it has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and perform its duty to the people as its elected representatives and no amount of name calling will detract it from carrying out its legitimate role as watchdogs of society." The group also decried the low level of tolerance of the NPP government for criticism adding that the Minority still maintains the view that the acquisition of the Peugeot cars was an attempt to circumvent Parliament's authority and subvert its power of the purse.

According to the minority, “while it supports the exercise to equip the Ghana Police Service to carry out its duties efficiently, it will insist that due procedure is followed and the principles of transparency and accountability upheld in all transactions.”

"The President has indeed confused the situation further by his assertion that the vehicles are being purchased through the establishment of direct Letters of Credit."

"This is directly contrary to (the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs) Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey's assertion that the funds were drawn from the provisional estimates and that no down payment is required and payment for the vehicles is spread over three years at 2.5 per cent interest for the second set of 50 cars.”

The Minority, therefore, called on government, to as a matter of urgency explain to the public, the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the Peugeot vehicles.

They said they were aware of the arrangement between Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Kufuor in respect of the Peugeot cars over six months before the arrival of the vehicles. “There was, therefore, nothing urgent about it as the President would like Ghanaians and indeed the whole world to believe.”