Rehabilitate Madam Fathia - Opanin Afreh

Kumasi, Nov 24, GNA- Opanin Kwame Afreh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Reform Party (NRP), on Monday appealed to the government to rehabilitate Madam Fathia Nkrumah, wife of late President, osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Besides Madam Fathia, he said, the government should also consider rehabilitating the wives of all former Heads of State including Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings in the spirit of reconciliation.

Opanin Afreh said if this were done President J A Kufuor would have added another feather to his cap as someone who is really committed to reconciling the nation.

He told the GNA in an interview that the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and the United Party (UP) were the two parties that fought for independence though on different wavelengths.

''If today the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which is an offshoot of the UP, is in power it will be prudent for the government to rehabilitate the wife of the man with whom they fought for independence for the country.

Opanin Afreh said the President should not to be deterred by criticism particularly on the reconciliation exercise and described those critics as nation wreckers.

He praised Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Energy and Professor George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture who are staunch CPP members but had decided to place their services at the disposal of their country.

Opanin Afreh asked Dr Nduom, Professor Hagan and Mr Freddie Blay, first Deputy Speaker of Parliament not to be deterred by their critics but work relentlessly to rally all the CPP fraternity together to forge a united front to contribute towards national building.

He also renewed his appeal to President Kufuor to perform the funeral of Dr Nkrumah, saying that it will be the greatest legacy he could bequeath the CPP.

The NRP regional chairman expressed regret about the rift between President Kufuor and former President Jerry John Rawlings and said the problem should be solved in the national interest.

Opanin Afreh cautioned President Kufuor to be wary of some of his men who had turned their backs on members of the other political parties who helped the NPP to power since by their actions, they are alienating the other parties from the bond of solidarity they forged in 2000.