Former President Rawlings Press Statement.

Office of Flt. Lt.(rtd) Jerry John Rawlings [Former President of the Republic of Ghana]

January 20th, 2006

THE NEWS EDITOR

PRESS STATEMENT CRUSADING GUIDE LIES AGAIN ABOUT EX-PRESIDENT JJ RAWLINGS The publication in the Weekend Crusading Guide of Friday 20th January, 2006 concerning a possible police quizzing of Ex-President Jerry Rawlings over comments he allegedly made in relation to the stealing of cash and vandalisation of a vehicle belonging to NDC MP Dr Mustapha Ahmed during the NDC Congress that took place in Koforidua in December, 2005 is despicable.

I would like to categorically state after cross checking with the police administration that just as we do, the police consider that publication, a figment of the imagination of the writer of the story.

I would like to use this opportunity to say that the Former President did not at any point in time say anything to suggest that he had fore-knowledge! of the vandalisation of Dr Ahmed's vehicle. On the contrary, the Former President commiserated with him, expressing his sympathy to Dr Ahmed about what had happened to his vehicle, in this harsh period of NPP rule which has ushered unprecedented economic hardship on the masses of Ghanaians.

It is becoming increasingly clear to most Ghanaians that certain press houses have made it their policy to shore up the failing NPP government through the fabrication of stories, the telling half truths to the peddling of outright lies about the NDC and its Founder.

We are aware that the Office of the President as well as that of the National Security Coordinator, have, since the NDC congress in Koforidua, been pressurizing the Police administration to find any and every way to criminalize the whole NDC and in particula! r, Former President Rawlings, if possible.

It is my hope that civil society, the International Community, Religious bodies and Traditional Authorities are watching closely what is happening in Ghana under the NPP administration.

VICTOR SMITH SPECIAL ASSISTANT AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS