Who Gagged Presidential Spokesperson?

It is now known that pressure was brought to bear on the Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani to issue a statement to the effect that the Presidential Spokesperson, Kwabena Agyepong did not have the mandate to speak on any foreign issue or policy, except the President.

Sources close to the Castle told the ''Evening News'' that the outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hackman Owusu Agyeman called the Chief of Staff to complain that Kwabena Agyepong was granting interviews to radio stations on the government’s policy on the US-led war against Iraq. He also alleged that apart from that, the latter had taken to playing the role of Foreign Affairs spokesman on so many occasions.

The sources said on so many trips abroad with the President, Mr Owusu Agyeman had confronted Mr Agyepong whenever he tried to speak to the media.

Mr Owusu Agyeman once even shoved off Mr Agyepong from speaking to the media on any issue since he, being substantive Minister, had the right and responsibility to speak on government policy issues.

The recent rumpus which generated a lot of rumpus started when Kwabena Agyepong was asked to comment on a story published by an Accra-based newspaper - PALAVAR - that President Kufuor called US President Bush to pledge Ghana’s support for US-led invasion of Iraq.

The Government spokesperson denied the story saying that Ghana’s position on the war is line with that of the African Union, which the country belongs to.

But Mr Owusu Agyeman who was not happy that Mr Agyepong spoke on government’s position complained to the Chief of Staff who in turn issued the statement.

The sources said after the President had listened to the tape on Kwabena Agyepong’s response, he saw that it was in order, and therefore did not see the need for the statement issued by the Chief of Staff.