Rawlings Denies Illegal Possesion Of Cars

The Office of the former President has stated that all vehicles in the possession of Jerry Rawlings were duly allocated by the Joint Transitional Team, and not taken away by the former President while leaving office.

The former President has returned seven of the vehicles in his fleet to government, because of what his aides say, "is the increasing media propaganda being waged against the Rawlings household."

Special Assistant Victor Smith said nine vehicles were allocated the former president in addition to his accommodation as part of a temporary resettlement package.

This brought to thirteen, the total number of vehicles in the Rawlings household.

"The idea was that, these vehicles (about six meant for the security persons) plus the accommodation will be used pending the final determination of the former presidents settlement package", he stated.

According to him, the decision to return some of the vehicles is not because the Rawlings household and office does not have use for them.

He described as unfortunate, reports on the return of the vehicles to the Castle, which created the impression that they were part of vehicles unlawfully taken away.

Mr. Smith accused the government of bad faith in respect of the media reports as it failed to state that the vehicles in use by the former President were duly allocated to him, and that those returned were part of the allocated fleet.

He claimed that, he met the Chief of Staff Mr. Kofi Mpianim to inform him about the former President's desire to return some of the vehicles because of the propaganda against his use of the vehicles.

The former president now has five vehicles for use by his office, personal security and household. Six of the nine vehicles allocated by the Joint Transitional Team were meant for his personal security.