Ghanaian President John Kufour has described as "astonishing, strange and unfortunate", allegations of human rights abuse made against his government by former President Jerry Rawlings and some leading members of his National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking at the press conference in Abuja- Nigeria, President Kufour who turned 65 on Sunday said the allegations are coming from "disgruntled persons who will stop at nothing to give his government a bad name."

Both Jerry Rawlings and the NDC have intensified their criticism and attack on the NPP administration lately with the former president telling the Voice of America last week that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is stalling democracy in Ghana amidst attempts to stifle the basic freedom of the citizenry. Rawlings' VOA outburst follows a recent visit to Nigeria by leading members of the NDC where they drew up a litany f alleged human rights abuses by the ruling government.

President Kufuor told journalists that Rawlings ruled Ghana with an iron fist for eleven years as a military ruler, the first three of which was marked by unilateral curfew. "At that time, by ten p.m, you will see men, women and children running helter skelter to their homes, otherwise no one will know what will happen next", he said.

The president defended his administration's human rights record so far saying freedom of speech is thriving. He said two years into his administration, there is freedom of expression and association with over 100 stations and newspapers springing up all over the country. "Everyone is writing and saying their own thing", he added.

President Kuffour said the NPP sprang out of a tradition with great respect for the rule of law and a strict adherence to the constitution of Ghana and that he would be the last to violate those basic principles.

The president expressed surprise that the NDC has chosen to voice it's concerns outside Ghana and wondered how Jerry Rawlings could claim democracy was being killed while still aspiring to propel his party back to power in the 2004 general elections. "If you care to visit Ghana one of these days you will see that these people are very disgruntled persons who will stop at nothing to give my administration a bad name."

President Kufuor returns home today from Abuja where he attended the summit of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.