Amidst claims of being treated as a nonentity

Party Guru Exposes JJ

…Says He’s Enjoying Full Benefits, But Like Oliver Twist He Wants More

Claims made by former President Jerry John Rawlings in front of students of the University of Ghana, last week, that he and his family are being treated like nonentities by President Mills, his appointees and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party has turned out to be false.

While he and his wife’s supporters (FONKAR) continue to create the impression that government has not been taking care of them, but the facts, according to a senior member of the party’s Functional Executive Committee, are different. Obviously incensed by the former president’s Legon drama, the party guru maintained that Jerry Rawlings is not being fair to himself, the President and the party.

He told the Enquirer that President Rawlings cannot claim that he is being treated as a nonentity because he is benefitting from all that is due him under the Greenstreet Report of 2000, and even more.

“Go and check with government and it will be confirmed to you. From the information that we have at the party headquarters, Rawlings and his family, including Kofi Adams, should be appreciative rather than antagonistic towards government,” the party official insisted.

Asked about what government has been providing the former President, The Enquirer learnt that his gratuity, as prescribed by parliament in accordance with Article 68(3) of the constitution, was paid to him by the Kufuor regime. “Since Mills took over, there has been no break in the payment of his pension. In fact, as required, his pension, which is equivalent to his salary and other allowances and facilities, has been paid together with all statutory increments between 2009 and now.”

According to the senior party official, former President Rawlings has a fully functioning office at Ridge in Accra, which was not affected by the recent fire that gutted his official residence. Government has paid all utility bills presented by the office without delay.

Asked if he knew whether the former president has been provided with domestic and support services as required under the Greenstreet report, The Enquirer was told that none of these have been varied.

In addition to National Security providing 24-hour security, the Enquirer learnt, government, like in the case of former President John Kufuor, has been providing more than the one secretary, one cook, one steward, one driver, one gardener, 24-hour guard for his person and security for his house.

“He has workers or persons who are more than just secretaries, and government ensures that they are taken care of. As we speak, government has received a new list of two additional aides for the former president- Kofi Adams and Kobina Andoh - whose details, have been sent to the Ministry of Finance for processing. So what is it that they are talking about?” The party guru told the Enquirer. The paper learnt that Special Assistant Joseph Otoo’s name has been on the list already and recently received a bulk payment for his salary arrears that were due as a result of the former president himself requesting that government stops payment sometime in 2010 to allow for a review of the list.

On cars, the Enquirer was asked to go and check how many vehicles have been provided the former president and whether it is fewer than what he is entitled to. According to him, not only has the former president been given vehicles, but like John Kufuor, the vehicles, including those being used by his assistants, are provided with fuel by government.

“Government has also supported and paid all medical bills submitted by the former president, both for himself and his wife. There has been no time that any bills submitted have been refused, because it is in line with his entitlements. “But I know that there have been times that government has even gone further to buy airline tickets for accompanying doctors and other shipments flown into the country.

“When it comes to utility payments, the former president is entitled to free utility services to cover water, electricity and telephone. Information available to The Enquirer indicates that all bills presented for payment and covering the Tefle residence in the Volta Region and the Ridge office in Accra have all been paid.

When government is notified, fuel is provided for the generator powering the Ridge residence as well, the official noted.

The NDC top notch indicated that since government is not willing to put out details of its dealings with the two former presidents, the party must do so in order to cure the feeling among some party faithful and Ghanaians generally that President Rawlings is being unfairly treated, when that s not the case.

He condemned his colleague, Deputy General Secretary Kofi Adams, who he accused of knowing the facts but yet continues to spread falsehood on radio and in the media.

“Kofi is not only aware because he has been with NEC and FEC all these years, but he himself if a direct beneficiary sometimes, so why does he do that? Even though, as a former president, Jerry Rawlings should travel abroad at the expense of the state once a year with his spouse, go and check the number of times the state has bought tickets for Kofi Adams, Herbert Mensah and Kobina Andoh to accompany our Founder outside the country.”

He explained that the government is aware that you can’t just leave a former president to be on his own, as he needs security and also assistance, and that recognition has not been shirked at all.

He disclosed that to support Rawlings’ Somalia work, government has and continues to support ticket upgrades for various officials to accompany him on his Somalia programmes around the world.

“Kofi has left or is due to leave with the former president to China and the tickets were provided by the African Union. Has Kofi not sent a letter asking for an upgrade of his ticket to accompany Rawlings? Has government refused?” He asked.