Editorial News of Thursday, 17 August 2000

Source: null

'Dracula' Manifesto

The Accra Mail says a number of individuals have expressed misgivings about President Rawlings' use of blood to autograph a copy of the NDC manifesto.

The paper reports that a visit to the office of the Vice President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills to ascertain whether he, as a Christian, distances himself from President Rawlings' behaviour however turned futile as he could not be reached nor his opinion gathered from his secretary.

The Mail reports however that in a chat with Mr. Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP, he joined those expressing indignation at the NDC leader's behaviour.

"It sends the wrong signals to our children", he reportedly said, challenging "leading members of the NDC to try explaining such action to their children."

The Mail carries also that baffled callers to phone-in programmes on Accra FM stations vent their disturbed minds on President Rawlings' action with the bottom-line being a claim that he loves the supernatural and is bringing the President's office into disrepute.

The paper adds that the major religions of Christianity and Islam, according to scholars that it has contacted do not permit the use of human blood for purposes apart from its role in the human body.