-- John & John pledge
… His constitutional privileges will also not be varied
… he and Rawlings will be consulted on national issues

The Newly Appointed running mate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, says the new NDC government would not engage in political witch hunting. According to him, the government under Prof. Mills will protect President Kufour and give him all the respect and courtesy that he deserves, as one of the only two surviving former Presidents of Ghana.

In an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, John said under no circumstance would the courtesies and facilities due to President Kufour be withdrawn, even if he was critical of the new NDC government.

“These facilities were constitutionally guaranteed and could not be withdrawn as happened in the recent past”. He stated that Prof Mills would treat both Presidents Rawlings and Kufour equally and respect them as elderly statesmen, and their advice and criticism would be appreciated and taken in good faith. Mr. Mahama maintained that the Serious Fraud Office, CHRAJ and other anti- graft agencies would be empowered to carry out their legal mandates, adding that they will also amend the constitution to remove the bottleneck on the legal restriction that prevents CHRAJ from investigating a matter without receiving a formal complaint.

“Investigations into corruption would be fair and transparent and without reference to one’s political colour or ethnic origin”. He disclosed that they would also scrap the office of accountability in the office of the president. Touching on the role the media would play, the running mate said the new NDC would engage the media as an ally in nation building, adding that programs would be put in place to help the media in fulfilling its watch dog role assigned to it in the 1992 constitution. He said such programmes would be transparent and be implemented under the aegis of the National Media Commission and the Ghana Journalist Association. He reiterated that the new NDC does not consider the media as an enemy, but as a partner in disseminating its programmes and messages to the people.

John Mahama recently returned from Kumasi, where he was warmly received by the Asantehene and the people of Kumasi. He was reported to have given a well applauded presentation on NDC’s energy policy on behalf of Prof. Mills at the KNUST energy seminar.