Gov�t Dissociates Itself From Gen. Nunoo�s Comments

Government has dissociated itself from comments made by the National Security Advisor, Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (Rtd) on the increasing number of industrial actions in the country. �The use of intemperate language is not something that government will encourage. It should tell you right away that government does not endorse the comments that were made by the General irrespective of the fact that he is entitled to his view�,� said a Deputy Information and Media Relations Minister, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu. Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah (Rtd) over the weekend opined that persons who cannot sacrifice for the development of Ghana should �take your passports and get out of this country and don�t destroy the country for us. If you can�t sacrifice like what some of us have done, then get out. If the Kitchen is too hot for you, get out.� His comments have since received widespread condemnation with the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is calling for his dismissal because his comments were �highly inappropriate, distasteful, and disrespectful.� Responding to the NPP�s call for the dismissal of the retired General on Eyewitness News on Monday, Kwakye-Ofosu noted �the voice of the NPP in particular on this matter is completely devoid of any moral value because of their own conduct.� He explained the NPP endorses the use of intemperate language �and if you come up to create the impression that suddenly, they are against the use of intemperate language, I think that their call is motivated more by convenience rather than principles.� The Deputy Minister recalled that the NPP did not publicly reprimand or privately punish its General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie who was convicted by the Supreme Court for making derogatory comments against the president of the panel of Judges who presided over the hearing of the Election Petition case. He asked, �so what moral justification does the NPP have to call for the head of another person who has made comments that other seem inappropriate?� Kwakye-Ofosu therefore suggested that �persons coming from equity come with clean hands. They must show that they are not just interested in convenience politics but that they believe in the principles that they espouse.�