President Mills begins leave

Communications Director at the Presidency, Koku Anyidoho, on Monday had a good laugh on radio responding to questions if President John Mills was not merely boasting per his warnings to deal drastically with anyone who disturbs the peace of the country.

According to Koku, the president was far from mere talk.

He said people have the right to think whatever they like and it was alright for them to think the President was merely talking as long as such people kept any such diabolical plans within their minds, “…but we just hope that that right to think so just remains within the confines of their skull and doesn’t translate into anything practical because it will not be countenanced at all.”

Koku who was speaking to Radio Gold, also indicated the president was proceeding on leave to rest his bones after a tour of Canada and the US.

“As you are aware the President went to Canada, came to the US and he’s had a series of meetings and I think it’s about time that, as he said himself before leaving (Ghana), it’s about time that he rested his bones. I reckon that the bone resting starts today, Monday.”

He did not elaborate on the leave. Early on in September he had indicated the President intended to take the leave lasting no more than two weeks to reflect on his work.

Koku on Monday was explaining comments President Mills was reported to have made to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, in which he had assured the UN chief to ignore ‘ugly noises’ coming from sections of the Ghanaian political divide over the country’s 2012 general elections.

He said President Mills has continued to press home why next year’s elections should not detract from Ghana’s democratic credentials, assuring also that no stone would be left unturned to achieve a peaceful, credible polls.

“As I said earlier on president Mills is very confident that in spite of all the noises that we are hearing from certain areas, nothing will happen, I mean nothing will happen. He inherited a peaceful Ghana from President Kufuor and President Mills is very determined to make sure that God-willing after his eight years, he will hand over a peaceful Ghana to his successor so I think that Ghanaians must rest assured and we just stay focused, do what is right and proper and pray that God will continue to shower blessings upon our dear motherland.”

He said the UN chief promised the establishment’s support for a peaceful elections and would do all it could to support that cause.

Below is a statement issued by the presidency on President Mills interaction with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
Prez Mills Seeks UN Support For Violence-Free Election
His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills has requested the United Nations (UN) to keep a close eye on Ghana as he remains strongly committed to ensuring that next year’s General Election is violence-free.

President Atta Mills made the request when he met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the North Lawn UN Headquarters located at the 1st Avenue, 46TH street, in New York.

President Atta Mills, who has continued to pledge to ensure that Ghana comes out of next year’s election more united to build a Better Ghana, said that the UN as well as other International Bodies must support Ghana’s effort to stay united and intact.

According to President Mills, he inherited a peaceful Ghana and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Ghana sinks deeper into the tenets of democracy under his watch.

“I will not allow Ghana to burn under my watch and want the UN to support me in this endeavour” President Mills said.

“I know that you are hearing some ugly noises but those noises will not be allowed to see the light of day” President Atta Mills added.

According to President Atta Mills, the will and wishes of the people will remain supreme and nobody will be allowed to subvert what the majority of Ghanaians want.

“I don’t have an inordinate desire to be President; what I want is to better the living standards of Ghanaians and for us to continue to live in peace and harmony” President Mills said.

“God forbid that Ghana will be destroyed under my watch! I can assure you that in as much as we are confident that we will gain the confidence of Ghanaians to have another term, we will also make sure that all those who want to destroy our peace and stability are dealt with decisively”.

On his part, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon assured President Atta Mills that the UN values very much the peace and stability in Ghana and will support every effort to make sure that Ghana’s leading role in, peace, democracy, and stability on the continent is kept intact.

According to the UN Secretary General, next year’s election affords Ghana another opportunity to fly high Her democratic credentials and the UN will not sit idly by and allow the unacceptable to happen.

“The United Nations is prepared to provide all the support that we can to make Ghana remain a beacon of, democracy, peace, and stability, and you can count on us” Mr. Ban Ki-Moon told President Mills.

“I admire your leadership qualities and will support your quest to build a Better Ghana” Mr. Ban Ki-Moon added.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon once again praised President Atta Mills for the unique and important role he played in giving Cote d’Iviore the peace that the country is currently enjoying.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon also thanked President Atta Mills for the warm reception and hospitality that he was accorded when he detoured through Ghana to Cote d’Iviore for the investiture of President Ouattarra

The UN Secretary General told President Atta Mills that he intends to pay an official visit to Ghana next year.

His Excellency President Atta Mills said Ghana was ever-willing to play host to Mr. Ban Ki-Moon.

President Atta Mills was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman and Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ken Kanda, who was highly commended by the UN Secretary General for doing a good job.

Source Myjoyonline Ghana

Category: News