I'm Proud To Captain Team B - Prez Mills

In his first response to Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah�s assertion of his Ministerial team as a Team B, President John Mills says he is proud to have captained and worked with a Team B over the last one year. The President chalked one year in office as Ghana�s Chief Executive on Thursday, January 07. Addressing the Press at the Castle Thursday morning on his achievement for the past one year, the President scored a high mark for his government and stated that �If NDC Team B can perform this well in one year; they (other political parties) should wait for the Team A. �When the Team A comes they will see what is going to happen and I am proud to be associated with B. I am the captain and also the coach and we shall win and deliver for the benefit of the people of Ghana.� The President addressed the journalists on issues bordering on corruption, internal criticism against his administration by former President Jerry Rawlings, agitation of NDC foot soldiers and the dismissal of technocrats such as Prof Ken Attefuah upon assumption of office by the NDC. A lot of the questions asked bordered on the resignation of the former Minister for Youth and Sports Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka as a result of indiscretion on his part as far as his Ministry�s expenditure was concerned. Mohammed Muntaka was accused of spending state funds on his girlfriend and baby among several other accusations. President John Mills however strongly defended the Asawase MP at the Press conference saying the former sports minister was never indicted for corruption but for indiscretion on his part. He commended Hon. Muntaka for his decision to resign honourably since some ministers in former administrations who were guilty of the same accusations never had the courage to resign as Muntaka did. �Since when have Ministers given this fact had the courage to tender their resignation; how many can you cite? �Even where there is clear cut evidence, they say they will stay on. I am happy that this young man took this step just to send a signal that whatever I think that my action is being called into question, I think that it is important for me to step aside and regroup for a future occasion,� He said. One other issue that received significant attention is former President John Rawlings� incessant accusations against his own party�s government. Mr Rawlings spares no punches anytime he gets the opportunity to lash at President Mills. He has on several public platforms attacked President Mills accusing him of lacking what he terms the revolutionary zeal in his government. He has numerously questioned the reasoning behind President Mills� decision to maintain some carry-over appointees from the Kufuor-administration. The former President recently threatened to quit the NDC if President Mills failed to heed to his numerous advices and deliver on his campaign promises. He also vowed not to put his life on the line any longer for people he described as �greedy bastards� in the ruling party. Many have wondered if the former President is a pain in the neck of President Mills but the President told the press that he is comfortable with Mr. Rawlings� concerns. He said Mr. Rawlings criticizes from a position of experience and he sees no problem with that. �There is no head of State who has more experience than President Rawlings. So he has every right to criticize and to make suggestions and I welcome them and I will continue to welcome them�President Rawlings is welcome because he is coming from a position of experience. I worked with him and I know what he is capable of�He has more experience; I belong to his party so it is not a problem at all. He will never be a pain in my neck,� He stated. President Mills has also asked Ghanaians to forgive the beleaguered Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Opoku Manu who recently at an NDC political program in Kumasi urged party supporters to be violent to their opponents when necessary. The statement incurred swift responses from civil society groups deploring the Minister�s comments. Hon Opoku Manu subsequently apologised for the comments. But the NPP issued a statement yesterday, January 6, calling for the dismissal and prosecution of the Minister, stating that the comment having come from the Regional Minister and Chairman of the regional Security Council was reprehensible and in bad taste. But the President at the interaction with the journalists called on Ghanaians to forgive the minister since he might have learnt his lessons. �We all err from time to time, and once he has apologized he is admitting that he went too far so please let�s forgive him just as we are even forgiven for the bigger crimes that we commit. Be merciful to him and I believe that he will be learning his lessons from this,� He said.