General News of Monday, 29 August 2011

Source: GNA

Vice President has not “fought” Bagbin

Accra, Aug. 29, GNA - The Office of the Vice President on Monday denied reports of a scuffle between Vice President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin, over the Ghana Housing Project, also referred to as STX housing project.

A statement signed in Accra by the Spokesperson to the Vice President, Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, described the reports as a “crude attempt by some media houses and political forces to tarnish the image of Vice President Mahama to achieve their parochial interests”.

It said there was no reason for anybody to be angry let alone engage in a scuffle over the Housing Project.

“Vice President Mahama is even known to have the best of working relationships with Mr Bagbin from their days in parliament and now in government."

The statement said the false report was similar to a previous claim that the Vice President pulled a gun on former President Jerry John Rawlings at the Castle.

“Every Ghanaians knows and appreciates his (Vice President Mahama’s) tolerance and patience and it is not in his character to engage in verbal or physical exchanges with any person,” it said.

The statement said Vice President Mahama had chaired, on behalf of the President, government meetings about helping clear the country’s housing deficit and also reviewed the wrangling among the partners working on the Ghana Housing Project.

It said there were no scuffles at any of these meetings.