Kufuor: I�ve No Regrets Whatsoever!

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has told Peace Fm in an exclusive interview that in his eight(8)-year rule there was not a single decision he regrets ever taking due to the positive impact policies initiated and decisions taken by him have had on Ghanaians. Speaking in an interview on PeaceFM�s �Kokrokoo� programme, the Joint-Winner of the World Food Foundation Award touted his own administration�s credentials and said the NPP under his tenure performed creditably well by improving the economy and other sectors especially health, education and road infrastructure. He described the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law by his administration which virtually liberated journalists as a milestone. �I was not perfect but we did what we could to achieve the desired results,� he told Kwami Sefa-Kayi. When asked if he had as yet received his gratuity, Mr Kufuor replied that President Mills has given him the assurance that everything he (Kufuor) deserves would be given to him. According to him, he expects the Chinery Hesse committee�s report to be used in determining his emoluments should President Mills decide to honour his word �since that is what Parliament has agreed on.� �It is not yet in but I hope it comes,� he stated. It is unclear if Mr Kufuor will be paid his ex-gratia based on the Chinery-Hesse or Ishmael Yamson Reports. It would be recalled that the Chinery-Hesse report on how former Presidents and Article 71 office holders should be paid their emoluments sparked quite a storm in political and media circles culminating in a presidential commission to review the package. The former president again doggedly and dogmatically repeated his call for a 5-year presidential tenure to be drafted into the constitution due to the nature of governance, adding that �the four-year term is akin to a 100metre dash�. Touching on what he will use the money from his recent international award for, he disclosed that he has begun a foundation called the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation for Leadership, Development and Good Governance and will put up a centre at the University of Ghana to promote governance and development in the sub-region. He added that part of the prize money will be channeled into the centre which will start off as a think tank where people who have excelled in their fields of endeavour will be invited to interact with other participants. According to him, part of the prize money will also be used to complete a presidential museum and library on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology campus. Mr Kufuor confirmed reports that he is penning down his memoirs and believes its publication will aid African leaders in governance considering his experience as a former president.