U.S Ambassador calls on Rawlings

FORMER President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has appealed to the United States of America (USA) and the rest of the international community, to assist Ghana, with the appropriate structures and technologies to enable her maintain the culture of democracy currently prevailing in the country.

He said the practice of democracy must be evident in the respect for human values and the safety of the citizenry.

Flt Lt Rawlings said this when the outgoing US Ambassador, Ms Kathryn Dee Robinson called on him at his residence in Accra yesterday, to bid him farewell, at the end of her three-year duty tour of the country.

He said the former government played a very vital role in the restoration of democracy in the country, and kept it alive through the electoral process.

However, the former President said, in matters of national interest, the truth is often being concealed by opponents of the former government, for their own political expediency.

He cited the serial killing of women which preceded the last general elections, and said the matter should not be allowed to rest with the arrest of “just one or two sick people on the streets”.

The former President said it is necessary for the FBI experts, who are assisting the Ghana Police Service to unravel the mystery surrounding the murders, “to get to the bottom of the cold blooded murders before the next elections, which I am confident we will win”.

On her part, Ms Robinson said the United States is always willing to listen to all key players in the political environment of countries they have relations with.

She thanked the former government for its co-operation and the support extended to her during her tenure of office, and wished the former President well.

The former Vice- President, Professor J.E.A. Mills, who was present, said the former government has worked to nurture democracy in the country, and therefore would not rock the boat.

“We are ready to offer our assistance in all matters of national development, because we have definitely acquired some experience”, he said.

The former Speaker of Parliament, Justice D. F. Annan, said the former government’s relationship with the US was worthwhile.