GHANA MISSION REJOINDER: ‘THE ENQUIRER’ - JUNE 6TH 2008 - MISINFORMATION

The attention of the Embassy of Ghana in Washington D.C. has been drawn to an article on Friday, June 6, 2008, edition of ‘The Enquirer’.

The Embassy wants to make it unequivocally clear that the usual protocol courtesies are extended to all Members of Parliament on arrival from Airports and to all official functions. Washington Mission has in the recent past provided similar services to others, including Hon. Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom in May 2008.

It is also important to underscore the fact that during this particular June 2008 visit, the visiting Members of Parliament were picked directly from the Airport to scheduled non-official functions by private people on arrival on June 3, 2008. The delegation also went to many non-official events with privately arranged vehicles.

With regard to the business promotion event organized by the Whitaker Group, (official Ghana Advocacy group) and a panel discussion on Ghana’s Democratic Governance and Economic progress organized by the Center for Strategic International Studies in Washington D.C., the two events were not for fund-raising and were non-political. Indeed, the Organizers took advantage of the presence of the former Ministers and sitting members of Parliament to contribute to the discussions at the two events, to which the Mission had earlier been invited to participate.

The Mission wishes to further state that it always assists visiting MPs, government officials and other individuals in its areas of accreditation no matter their political affiliation. It is worthy of note that records reflect similar support given to others who made the Mission aware of their official engagements whilst in the U.S.

It is hoped that in future clarification will be sought from the appropriate officials of the Embassy before such articles are published.