Accra, Nov. 1, GNA - Mr Victor Smith, Aide to Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday said the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Kwamena Bartels should allow President John Agyekum Kufuor to substantiate the coup plot allegations he levelled against the former President.

He said the question the Minister asked "was Rawlings planning a coup?" should be answered by the Minister or the President because "Rawlings has categorically denied doing any such thing. Kufuor must answer this question. Kufuor made the allegations and he or his agents must substantiate it.

A statement issued in Accra from the former President's office in response to Government's press statement on Tuesday October 31, reacting to accusations President Kufuor made that Rawlings was soliciting funds from an oil rich country to stage a coup in Ghana, Mr Smith said his office would deal with the allegations Mr Bartels made at a press conference "at the appropriate time and forum."

Mr Smith said, "As President, it is most reprehensible for him to create that kind of panic, anxiety and uncertainty even in the minds of prospective investors when there is no credible evidence but just pure speculation on a political platform for propaganda purposes."

He said it was necessary to set the records straight since the Minister "intended to pollute the minds of the public with half truths and some blatant lies"

Mr Smith said Mr Bartels' assertion that "President Rawlings has made it categorically clear that he doesn't believe in the democratic process" was false.

He said "President Rawlings has expressed his misgivings about multi-party democracy but has always expressed his preference for participatory type of democracy".

Mr Smith said it was ridiculous to say that Rawlings was going to stage a coup since he had given an interview to a radio station in London and had said "If the lies, atrocities and corruption that had bedevilled the Kufuor Government in Ghana continued, there will be a coup to arrest the injustice going on".

He said during the Rawlings administration, most of the present senior military commanders were very much aware of how their predecessors regularly called on Rawlings at the Castle to discuss various cases of national interest, and if it was being suggested that the commanders could do the same, how could that mean it was a call to them to take up arms against the government.

Mr Smith however, conceded that Rawlings' reference to the Middle-East instead of oil-rich country in the statement read by Mr Victor Gbeho at his residence last week was a genuine error.

He said they would however continue to speak for the voiceless and silent majority