No Mills-Obama Cloth — Zita

The Ministry of Information has denied media reports that the government is printing cloths to mark the historic visit of United States President, Barrack Obama.

“The government has not made such a move,” Mrs. Zita Okaikoi, Information Minister told the Times in Accra.

She also described as false, reports that two separate cloths — one with the portraits of Presidents Mills and Obama, and another with those of the two First Ladies — were being printed with state funds.

The Minister, however, stated that the idea of the printing of such cloths came up at one of the Publicity Committee meetings, but the idea was dropped due to the huge financial implication.

That, she said, was because the government did not intend to waste funds in view of the country's poor financial position. The printing of T-shirts, which comes with a cheaper financial obligation, was rather agreed on.

“Government has not contracted Ghana Textile Print (GTP) or any local or foreign printers for the production of any Mills-Obama cloth,” she stressed, saying that she suspects some private companies might have been engaged in the production of such cloths.

She consequently asked all private companies with such intentions to seek clearance from the Publicity Committee at the Information Ministry before undertaking such venture.

Media reported on Tuesday that, cloths branded with portraits of Presidents Mills and Obama had been produced and would soon be on the market.

It also said GTP had been contracted to print large quantities of the cloth for the market.

Meanwhile David Yarboi-Tetteh, reports from Cape Coast that feverish preparations have commenced in the Cape Coast Metropolis towards the visit of President Obama with renovation and painting of some strategic buildings.

The Cape Coast Castle, which Mr. Obama is expected to visit had also been painted.

Other buildings being refurbished or given fresh painting are the Cape Coast Court Complex, the Ministries building and the Oguaahen's Palace.

The renovation of the palace is being undertaken by the China State Hualong Construction (Ghana) Limited.

Some residents of the metropolis told the Times that the visit of the US President would give the former seat of government a face-lift.

Bismark Aggrey, a resident, described the visit as a blessing, and asked: “Where would we have raised the resources to renovate the palace?”