Kufuor warns Rawlings

In firm but strong words, the man described as the “gentle giant’, president Kufuor has warned his predecessor, former president Jerry John Rawlings to stay away from the Ghanaian military and stop deluding himself that he was still president of Ghana.

He also told the former president in plain language that the Ghana Armed Forces did not belong to him (Rawlings).

Kufuor said Rawlings’ comments that the retirement of 2,000 non-commissioned officers from the Armed Forces meant his men were being removed, “bordered on the subversive.” The president said the Armed Forces owed “their allegiance to the state and not any individual.” He was speaking in an interview with London-based West Africa magazine.

The magazine which conducted the interview during the Ghanaian leader’s recent official visit to Germany quoted some hawks in the president’s delegation as warning that should Rawlings step out of line, “we will sort him out.” Describing such people as hawks, it said, they (the hawks) believed that it would be foolish of Rawlings to try to repeat his escapades of the past, “because the mood has changed in Ghana. This is not 1979 or 1981 (when the former president staged his two successful coups).”

“This is the first time in 30 years that a government is so on top of the security situation in Ghana,” the magazine quoted a member of the Kufuor delegation as saying. It added that the president was so sure that he did not hesitate to dismiss the National Security Advisor, Joshua Hamidu in the wake of the conflict in Yendi in Northern Ghana. However, media reports in the capital, Accra quoted the president has having accepted the resignation of the security advisor.

Another member of the delegation told the magazine that, “Rawlings would not have had the guts to sack his national security advisor, Kojo Tsikata because Rawlings was beholden to Tsikata.”

The magazine described president Kufuor as “less hawkish than some members of his entourage,” but he was equally determined to ensure that the democratic process in Ghana was not derailed.

On how his less than two-year old government has dealt with an army highly politicized by the previous government, Kufuor said he was happy that the military was returning to its primary role – that of defending the integrity of the state rather than interfering in politics.

Kufuor told the magazine that the government has very well and fortunately, the military as a whole has been very responsive. The army has a very professional leadership, which is proud of itself and of its procession. There were times, according to the Forces’ Sergeant major, when disgruntled politicians or adventurers would suborn elements within the forces to do their illegal bidding. But the military was happy to stay professional and to remain loyal to the state.”

Kufuor was asked whether by his answer, there had been attempts to subvert his government, “they were talking about the past. Not now,” the president replied.

The president was then asked to explain the issue of the retirement of the 2,000 non-commissioned officers, “these were soldiers who had overstayed their tenure of and were only waiting to be paid off. They had all overstayed by at least five years. These soldiers blocked the promotion of younger soldiers and also denied active soldiers accommodation and other opportunities within the barracks. So government has been working round the clock to raise the resources to retire them.”

On whether those who have been retired would not feel disgruntled, Kufuor said the soldiers had accepted to leave the army without complaints, “I don’t think anybody could misconstrue the legitimate for somebody who is already retired according to the law. They know that they have overstayed but one is not blaming them. They are entitled to their benefits but the past government could not find the resources. If anything, they should all be happy that this government is doing everything possible to let them retire decently and confidently. So how could they take offence because of the government’s act.”?

Asked whether the Rawlings factor was casting a long shadow over the NPP’s tenure, Kufuor had this to say, “Ghana is a free country and for as long as citizens keep within the laws they are entitled as individuals, to carry on with their idiosyncrasies within the law.”

The president was hesitant on whether he would go for a second term, agreeing that it was too early. It was then suggested to him that he should not leave it too late to start his campaign. His response was, “do you think I’ve left it too late for 2004? I believe that the campaign is in the quality of the work of the government.

Government is subjected to continued assessment by the people and if thee people are satisfied that the government is doing the right thing, then I believe that is the best campaign a government can undertake for re-election. I believe this government is not doing badly for the people.”