Kufour Chats With Ghanaians Abroad

President Kufour granted an interview to OBIMANSO RADIO, Atlanta (USA) based online radio station; www.obimansoradio.com .The interview was hosted by Kwaku Ofosu and produced by Adu Kessie was tuned in by a large number of Ghanaians abroad and elsewhere.

The Ex-President, who was very candid and calm, answered all the questions posed by individual callers quizzing him about during and after his tenure in office.

The open radio discussion touched on several burning questions affecting Ghanaians in every walk of life.

Callers Questions included the following:

1. NPP 2012 wining strategy 2. Healthcare Insurance 3. Single Spine Scheme 4. Collateralization of Ghana’s oil revenue 5. Kufour’s library/institute 6. President personal 2011 projection for Ghana 7. Ghana’s role in Ivory Coast unrest 8. President’s reflection on the single most toughest area in governing 9. Municipal zoning failures

On the question of NPP 2010 wining strategy, he said Ghanaian people have experienced both the NPP and NDC tenure of governments and believe that the failure of NDC government’s promises to the people has shifted the electorate towards NPP.

He pointed out the health insurance scheme, which is now endangered, that saved lives of millions of Ghanaians.

The single spine has been stalled by Mills Administration which is putting more pressure upon workers across the country.

The decision to collateralize the oil revenue has been pushed back by majority of Ghanaians. The ex-president believes that in principle there is nothing wrong with the concept of collateralization; however he hopes that the Mills Administration will reconsider and respect the wishes of the people of Ghana. “How can we collateralize something we don’t yet physically have?” The ex-president queried.

The ex-president was asked by the host of HARDBALL on Obimanso Radio about his life after his presidency. He assured the listeners that his life has been busy since his presidency. He has acquired land on the campuses of university of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to build two public Libraries. The libraries will serve as centers to develop leadership skills, the art of governance and research in economic planning and development.

The president encourages all Ghanaians to do the most for their country since the nations development completely depends on its people. He said people are the engine of government.

He criticized President Mills for coming out against the concerted efforts by ECOWAS and challenged him to respect the communiqué which he is a signatory to. The ex-president, John Agyekum Kufour further elaborated that it is not yet time to even discuss military action since that should be a last resort and to eliminate that as an options is premature.

Kwaku Ofosu, the host of the popular political show HARDBALL on Obimanso Radio, asked the president about the most difficult task as a president. Mr. Kufour said governing is by no means an easy task. It involves matters in which people have large emotional stakes. Any decision made affects millions of people and that responsibility must not be taken lightly.

The president touched on our Zoning Laws that needs to be developed to global standards; he admitted that governments in the past have failed to develop the city and planning agencies, which has caused our urban neighborhoods to be so disorganized. The question of proper zoning was asked by a caller during the live show.

By, Kwame Atakora