WASHINGTON (AP) - Ghanaian President John Kufuor says his plan for a reconciliation commission to look into killings and disappearances during Jerry Rawlings' 20-year rule is meant only to help ease tensions, not to conduct a witch hunt on political opponents.
In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Kufuor said he has sought to steer his nation past the type of tumult that usually marks transitions of power in Africa. He said democratic rule in Ghana will not be swayed by the post-presidency movements of Rawlings, a former air force pilot who staged coups twice before and has issued fresh warnings of revolt.
``I would describe those things going on around him now as just a passing phase. A very fast-passing phase,'' Kufuor said. ``Perhaps he is finding it a bit difficult to adjust. But I am sure sooner than later he will adjust.
``The people at the grass roots have decided. And I don't see any evidence ... that they'll go back.''
Kufuor was in the United States to attend a United Nations conference on AIDS and meet with President Bush alongside the presidents of Senegal and Mali. Kufuor said he was not offended by the group format of Thursday's meeting - something President Nixon used to do with African leaders - but instead viewed it as symbolic of Bush's desire for a serious relationship with Ghana.
``In our relationship with the United States currently, we don't expect any oversight. What we seek is a partnership,'' Kufuor said. ``Ghana will not submit to any arrangements that can make Ghana subservient to anybody, not even our powerful friends in the United States.''
Kufuor came to power promising to set up a reconciliation commission to address abuses under earlier governments. In the interview, he stressed that the panel should focus on the Rawlings era, saying many Ghanaians suffered ``injustice, deprivations and killings of relatives,'' as well as loss of property, over the past 20 years.
``All of these people are hanging in there with heavy pent-up feelings,'' Kufuor said. ``I believe the establishment of the commission will operate as a safety valve, to give them a chance to talk. It is far better this way than to keep feelings bottled up.''
Kufuor said his plan calls for a seven-member panel of public figures, ``none of whom is tainted'' by corruption. ``The goal of the effort is to normalize the situation for all of us,'' he said. ``They should help give us peace so we can look ahead together, as one nation.''
Rawlings oversaw the transition in Ghana to democracy after a period of heavy-handed rule during his early years in office.
His supporters were angered when Parliament recently did away with the annual June 4 holiday commemorating the 1979 military uprising that first put Rawlings in charge.
A month ago, Rawlings marked the anniversary with a speech lashing out at Kufuor. He spoke of discontent within the military and cautioned the government to change its ways to avoid a new revolt. Military leaders quickly denied any discontent in the ranks.
Days after the speech, 10 police vehicles and agents of the Bureau of National Investigations turned up at Rawlings' home. They staked out the home for a brief period before leaving. The Rawlings' camp suggested the move was in response to the former president's speech.
Kufuor, a British-trained lawyer and longtime opposition leader, took office in January, two weeks before President Bush. Kufuor said he watched with great interest the contentious battle last winter over the Florida ballot counting that awarded the White House to Bush - even though he was caught up in his own contentious campaign at the time.
``As a politician, I was intrigued,'' he said.
