General News of Thursday, 5 August 2004

Source: GNA

Rawlings expresses regret about statement

....on source of alleged Apraku mansion
Accra, Aug. 5, GNA - The Office of former President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday expressed regret about any inconvenience that the mention of the Offinsohene as the source of an alleged mansion being built by Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku at Akomadan must have caused him.

"I must stress that (former) President Rawlings was not emphatic about whether it was the Paramount Chief or a chief in his area which had passed on that information," statement signed by Mr Victor Smith, Director of Public Affairs of the Office of the President said. "Any mention of the Paramount Chief was therefore inadvertent and without malice. Any inconvenience caused him is regretted."

The statement said it was unfortunate that in addressing the reportage at his news conference the Offinsohene had to create an atmosphere that portrays the former President as unfriendly to the chiefs and people of Offinso.