No More Coups - JJ

Former President Rawlings says he would take an active part in the 2004 Presidential and parliamentary election campaign to ensure that the NDC wins the election. He however said that will depend on whether the NDC flagbearer for 2004, Prof Mills would grant him the opportunity ''because I don?t know how Atta Mills thinks''.

The former President accused the NPP of introducing a culture of silence in the country. He claimed that during his time (NDC administration), people were allowed to express their opinions through all manner of what he termed ''choobois or demonstrations''.

''But this time the NPP administration is not allowing it at all'' he complained. The former President wondered whether the same vocal journalists who campaigned against his government are the same people working in the media today, adding that it seems Ghanaian journalists are afraid of reporting the bad side of the Kufuor government.

Flt Lt Rawlings took the opportunity to deny media publications that he had gone to Congo (Brazzaville) to solicit arms to destabilize the government. When asked whether he had any such intentions, the former President replied with a big ''no''. Asked again whether he would respond to an invitation to lead a group that successfully launches a coup d?etat in the country he responded with a ''no'' yet again.