Rumor Mill of Friday, 20 May 2005

Source: LIZALIZA@SIL

JH Mensah is the prime minister -Minister

The Information Minister in the NPP government Mr.Dan Botwe this morning clarify some of allegations being made against the ruling party on Kweku Sekye Addo's Front page programme on an Accra FM station.

Speaking on the role of the senior Minister which one of the panelist thought is waste of the tax payers money, Dan Botwe said the senior minister is the Prime Minister of the country and coordinates all activities on behalf of the president. He stated that the senior minister is old and experienced and the president found it useful to have him playing that role.

On issues of corruption with reference to Dr. Anane he said, Anane has not committed any crime so there is no need to call for his resignation. Asked who should take the blame for the mess and grounding of Ghana Airways and the down grading of the aviation industry in Ghana by the U.S. Aviation he diverted the answer saying that "Anane is not the Minister of Aviation, aviation is now at the presidency".

Mr. Ayariga the NDC MP for Bawku central demanded to know the share holders of "Hotel Kuffour "as well as how the consortium of banks financed the purchase on the orders of Chief Addo Kuffour.The minister said Chief Kuffour is not part of the government so he cannot answer that .

Mohammed Ayariga insisted that the presidency influence the acquisition and challenge the banks to come forth with information.He asked , " how many 41 year old young men in Ghana can walk into banks in Ghana and secure such deals " ?