Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, former presidential aspirant of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Tuesday apologised to ministers of state who were hurt by his recent article in the newspapers, which generated sharp retort.

He said: "If some of my colleagues in government are aggrieved by my description of them as Team A or Team B players, then I apologise to them for any hurt they might feel.

"I was mainly repeating comments by large segment of the public on radio stations why the government might have chosen to field some players they consider as Team B players when in actual fact NDC abounds with many Team A players who are available and ready to play."

Dr Spio-Garbrah who was speaking at a press conference, stressed: "My sole concern is to help the NDC and the government to succeed in achieving its goals and objectives, and to fulfil its Election 2008 manifesto." He said the conference was to clear the air on several unfortunate statements against him, which if left uncorrected would denigrate "my hard-earned global reputation and obscure the purpose of the article, which was intended to strengthen the NDC, improve upon the government's performance, and not to create any divisions within the party or the government".

Dr Spio-Garbrah said "if the Mills-Mahama government does not fulfil the aspirations of Ghanaians, all Ghanaians and especially NDC members including me will suffer the consequences.

"We therefore collectively have a responsibility to assist the government in any way we can. This is therefore my current focus to encourage the government to act faster to address the needs of Ghanaians, using Nkrumah's example of self-government now, so that the government and the party will continue to be popular with the electorate and win Elections 2012."

Dr Spio-Garbrah denied all the allegations levelled against him, including claims that he was using the publication to intimidate President John Evans Atta Mills into giving him a Cabinet position and purportedly condemning all government appointees.

Other allegations are that he was responsible for rumours about President Atta Mills ill-health, he is not a team player, he is going around with a fake Ph.D, and that he did not perform well as Chairman of the Social Sector Committee in the Transition Team.

On the issue of fake Ph.D, Dr Spio-Garbrah explained that his PhD is an honorary doctorate degree awarded him by the Middlebury-College in the US in June 2001.

"Mind you I received this honorary degree when NDC was out of power and I was simply an ordinary Ghanaian citizen.I did not lobby for such a title." He directed the media to check from international and local institutions including the World Bank, African Development Bank and in the teaching, advertising and marketing, banking, diplomacy, governmental and international organisations where he had worked over the years whether or not he is a team player.

Dr Spio-Garbrah called on NDC and the government to create opportunities for frank expression of varying views.