Local Government Minister, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu is challenging the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Josiah Aryeh to substantiate the alleged family relations between himself and President Kufuor. The NDC General Secretary alleged at a press conference to mark the NDC’s 10th anniversary that majority of Ghanaians have been alienated from participating in government because relatives of the President have been appointed to high office as Ministers and Special Assistants.

Among those named were Local Government Minister, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu and Private Sector development Minister, Kwamena Bartels. Angry at the imputations of nepotism being leveled against government and suggestions that he was appointed on account of his relations with government, Mr Baah Wiredu has demanded a retraction an apology for what he described as an untruth.

Messrs Aryeh and Kwadwo Baah Wiredu were engaged in heated argument when the former said that he will prove his allegation at the appropriate time.

Meanwhile, one time Presidential aspirant and UNIFIL Commander General, Emmanuel Erskine has also reacted to the NDC’s concerns about his inclusion on the panel of the National Reconciliation Commission. The NDC accused the NPP of politicizing the commission. It said the membership of the commission includes people who are either hostile or have reasons to be hostile to the NDC.

An example was made of General Erskine who contested the 1992 Presidential polls and suggestions that because he served on the National Redemption Council (NRC), which was overthrown by Rawlings’ AFRC, he cannot be an objective member of the panel.

But General Erskine has explained that he was made an automatic member of the NRC in view of his position as the then Army Commander. He, together with the then Navy and Air Force Commanders were made automatic members and were therefore not sworn in as other members of the NRC. General Erskine said he was therefore a figure member of the NRC and not a political member.