We will not cave in - Bagbin

Accra, August 1, GNA - The Minority in Parliament on Monday said it would not allow itself to be gagged and no amount of name calling would deter it from keeping the Government on its toes.

Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader, said no amount of verbal abuse from the Majority would deter them from their constitutional duty. Mr Bagbin was reacting to a statement President John Agyekum Kufuor was alleged to have made when he met Members of the Council of State.

He said, "the opposition's responsibility is to the people and it would carry out its duty to keep Ghanaians constantly informed about how the power, authority and resources of the nation are used and applied".

The "President has on many occasions taken swipes at the opposition calling them as evil forces and on another occasion describing them as cackling like chickens".

He said he was worried about attempts to rewrite the history of Ghana and to paint a picture that Ghana had gained respect and international recognition only under the New Patriotic Party administration.

"Ghana from the time of independence has been recognized as the Black Star of Africa.

"Under the illustrious First President Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana was at the centre of the continental liberation struggle and international alliance of the developing world such as the Non-Aligned Movement".

Mr Bagbin said "recognition of Ghana's influence and leadership skills of Former President Jerry John Rawlings saw Ghana twice occupying the chair of ECOWAS at a period of conflict in Liberia and Sierra Leone."

He said all these were crowned by the appointment of an illustrious son of Ghana, Busumuru Kofi Annan as United Nations Secretary General and "this is all part of the shinning record of Former President Rawlings."

Mr Bagbin said President Kufuor had never recognised anything positive in the government of his predecessor.