"I do not hate Mr & Mrs. Rawlings" - Baako

The Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako Jnr, who has for the past week published stories on ex-President Rawlings? properties, has denied suggestions that his publication is part of his personal hatred for the ex-President and his wife.

?I do not hate ex-President Jerry Rawlings or his wife, Nana Konadu. I certainly dislike some of his policies especially his human rights abuses. My investigations and searches for their properties, foreign accounts and that of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC)/ National Defence Council (NDC) associates is just a reaffirmation of the concept of probity and accountability for which we all supported the June 4 uprising."

"It is nothing personal and I can assure Ghanaians that what we have covered so far in terms of the properties and foreign bank accounts are shocking ?worth millions of dollars.?

Baako who was speaking in an interview with the Daily Dispatch said ?please bear in mind that when he (Rawlings) was on trial for the May 15, 1979 coup attempt, I was among those who campaigned for his court martial to be discontinued. Our group, among other activities went on a leaflet distribution at Burma Camp, all in support discontinuation of his trial.?

Baako explained that the former President had championed the need for probity and accountability in the body politic and even questioned how people can afford to send their children to expensive schools, even within Ghana, how much more outside the country.

?We all remember how Rawlings in his usual populism style, questioned how someone can have two toilets in his or her house. How much was he earning to be able to purchase that ?2.8 billion flat (in London) for his children? How is he getting the money to pay their school fees all in advance??

When asked by the Dispatch if it is not possible that the children could be on scholarships while the house could be a gift from friends, Mr. Baako laughed and said ?Oh, give me a break. If they (the children) are on scholarship, they should tell us. If that flat and others are gifts, they should also tell us. The point here is that if they are gifts, what they do for those who gave the gifts??

Kweku Baako then dropped a bombshell ?I can tell you on authority that we have uncovered some transfers involving millions of dollars from accounts in Europe. It is going to be fun and games in this country. For example, the 250,000 pounds flat was purchased outright. We have all the records,? he added.

The Crusading Guide in its last week Tuesday edition carried a front page story of where Rawlings children reside at Number 42 Fitzwilliam Quay, Block 2, Ireland. The average cost of the apartment is about 250,000 pounds.