Rawlingses To Sue Kweku Baako

Ex-President Jerry Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings have finally decided to call the bluff of the Editor-In-Chief of the Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako Jnr.

Sources close to the former first family indicated that they intend to sue Baako, his newspaper (The Crusading Guide) and the company (Professional Link Limited) for publishing false stories, with the aim of bringing them into disrepute and public ridicule.

Reached for his comments, Baako rubbed his hands and said, Oko are you sure? Until my Lawyers receive the legal documents, I will take it as mere bluff.Kweku Baako has in recent times, published stories on the former first familys alleged foreign accounts containing thousands of dollars. He has openly criticized the Rawlings for sending the case to the National Media Commission instead of the court.

But the Daily Dispatch again quotes its sources as explaining that the Rawlingses have other reasons for opting for the National Media Commission (NMC) and not because Baako has legitimate documents to show that Nana Konadus foreign accounts really exist.

They however noted that the Rawlingses decision not to go to court is creating a sort of psychological victory for Kweku Baako and his likes, hence the latest decision. But Kweku Baako told the Dispatch that "this is the opportunity I have been waiting for. I believe the former first family has been caught between the rock and a hard place. To go to court and risk the taunts that my allegations are true or go to court and risk all these embarrassing confrontations?"

Rawlings dismiss corruption charges

Kweku Baako Jnr, Managing Editor of the "Crusading Guide" has published a series of stories accusing the former President and his wife of living beyond their means. He also claimed that former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, operated a multi-million-dollar account in Switzerland.

But Rawlings has strongly denied the claims, dismissing them as fabrications. He said he is prepared to appear before anybody to defend his reputation and that his lawyers were preparing an appropriate response to the allegations.

Rawlings also denied that his wife has a account in the Swiss Bank cited by Baako Jnr, adding: "she doesn't even know the bank". He said his wife has written to the Bank, GONET CIE of Switzerland, to set the records straight and that the family was waiting for a response.

Rawlings said he himself never operated a foreign bank account when he was in office. The only time he considered opening a foreign bank account, he said, was recently when his wife had to undergo an operation abroad.

Baako Jnr has refused to appear before the Complaints and Settlements Committee of the National Media Commission to substantiate his allegations, but challenged the Rawlingses to take him to Court.

He said he was preparing a document on information for the Serious Fraud Office and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and would be prepared to co-operate with the police and security agencies on the matter.

The journalist accused the former first lady of operating a Swiss bank account, which has a balance in excess of 600,000 dollars. He also alleged that all four children of the former first family were attending expensive schools in Ireland and England.

Rawlings preached anti-corruption during his nearly 20 years in office, when several people were executed or given long jail terms for corruption.

He has been in the news recently for a controversial statement describing incumbent President John Kufuor's government as the worst since Ghana's independence and calling for "positive defiance," against the administration.

The former President has been questioned several times by State security agents, with the authorities calling the statement potentially treasonable. Official vehicles assigned to him have also been withdrawn in the aftermath of the controversial comment.