UK Gov’t Confirms Nana Addo-Cameron Meeting

The official press release issued by the Communications Directorate of the New Patriotic Party stating the events that took place when the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has been taken and placed “word-for-word” on www.government-news.co.uk, a UK government website dedicated to all news and press releases related to the UK government.

Investigations carried out by The New Crusading GUIDE reveal that the website was “created so that everyone can get access to the latest government news from ALL departments as they're released, ensuring that all news and press releases, no matter how bad, are publicised in one central, easy-to-use website.”

This is a confirmation that indeed the meeting that took place between the NPP flagbearer and the British Prime Minister on the 10th of November 2011, did in fact take place, an affront to the peculiar claims by Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communications at the Presidency who has asked for proof of the meeting ever taking place.

Activists of the ruling National Democratic Congress together with tabloids sympathetic to government have stated that their “sources at No. 10 Downing Street can confirm that such a meeting never took place”

The New Crusading GUIDE can reveal that under the “10 Downing Street” section of this website, the link to the official press release by the NPP titled “Akufo-Addo Meets Cameron over elections and Gay Issues” together with a story titled “Nana Addo meets Cameron over Ghana's anti-gay stance” are found on this website.

The link to the website is “http://www.government-news.co.uk/10-downing-street/201107/david-cameron-in-afghanistan.asp”

In an interview with Perry Okudzeto, deputy director of Communications of the NPP, he stated that the publication of this story on a website of the UK government is a confirmation that Nana Akufo-Addo and the British Prime Minister, did in fact meet.

“IF THIS MEETING DID NOT TAKE PLACE, WHY WOULD THE WEBSITE PUBLISH IT? WHY HASN’T THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OR THE OFFICE OF THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER COME OUT TO CATEGORICALLY DENY THAT THIS MEETING AND THE EVENTS STATED IN OUR PRESS RELEASE EVER TOOK PLACE?” Perry asked.

The NPP man added that meetings of this nature cannot and are not recorded explaining that it is the communications teams of these leaders who come out and brief the press on the outcomes of the meetings.

The NPP man stated that Nana Akufo-Addo is a former Attorney-General and also a former Foreign Minister of Ghana, as such “why would we make up such a claim if indeed it never took place”.

“When President Mills holds meetings with his counterparts abroad, does Koku Anyidoho record such meetings and hand over the tape to the media?”, Perry asked

According to Mr Okudzeto, this is not the first time the NPP flagbearer has had meetings with David Cameron as the pair have met on several occasions. Nana Akufo-Addo, Perry stated, on October 1 2008 addressed the Conservative Party Conference held in Birmingham and later held meetings with the leadership of the Conservative Party.

“We are tired at these diversionary tactics by the NDC. They have failed Ghanaians so far in the delivery of their so-called ‘Better Ghana Agenda’. They should rather concentrate on delivering the unachievable promises the made to Ghanaians in 2008,” Perry charged.

At the special meeting between the two political leaders, which took place at No. 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister and the Presidential Candidate discussed the need for peaceful, free and fair elections in Ghana and the recent announcement by the British Premier, threatening to withhold UK aid from governments that do not reform legislation banning homosexuality.

On elections in Ghana, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to congratulate Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP for the 2008 presidential election in Ghana, which he acknowledged Nana Akufo-Addo lost but by “hairsbreadth”.

He said, “It must have been painful for you and your party”, adding, however, the smooth and peaceful transition in Ghana in 2008 signified a significant progress for the process of democratic transition in Africa. “You are a great example for democracy. Best of luck next time,” Mr Cameron said to his guest from Ghana.

Nana Akufo-Addo used the opportunity in London to appeal to the UK and the international community, in general, to take a keen interest in Ghana’s 2012 general elections, beginning with the ongoing process of compiling a credible biometric voters’ list to tackle multiple registration and the campaign, being led by his own party, to have a biometric verification system at the polling station as a key tool for tackling the more serious problem of multiple voting.

On the issue of linking the promotion of gay rights to British development assistance, Nana Akufo-Addo told the British Prime Minister that Mr Cameron’s statement did not go down well with the Ghanaian public, who saw it as an affront to their social values.

The leader of Ghana’s main opposition party, therefore, cautioned, “I think we should be careful not to be seen to be imposing British values on another sovereign state.”

In response, Prime Minister David Cameron showed appreciation to the sentiments expressed by the flagbearer of the NPP.

The Prime Minister said that his decision to link the promotion of human rights to international aid was in response to the sentiments of the British people who are committed to promoting human rights, including minority rights, across the globe.