THE government has formally invited ex-President, J. J. Rawlings to participate in the Golden Jubilee celebration.
Yesterday, some members of the Council of State, religious leaders and eminent persons, led by Professsor Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, chairman of the council, met with Flt-Lt. Rawlings at his Ridge residence in Accra to extend the invitation to him, on behalf of the government.
When the delegation emerged after three hours of closed-door discussions, it was not clear who was to tell the media the outcome of the meeting.
While Professor Adzei-Bekoe said it was up to the former President to say whether he would take part in the celebrations or not, Minority Leader Alban Bagbin, who sat through the meeting as a member of the ex-President’s team, said it was rather the delegation that would have to convey to the public, the outcome of the meeting and whether the former President had accepted the invitation or not.
Although he did not explain why the delegation was sent by the government to invite the ex-President, it is believed that the visit may have been prompted by speculations that the ex-President might not participate in the celebrations because of the cold relationship between him and the government.
Prof. Adzei-Bekoe told the over 20 journalists that had besieged the ex-President’s residence that the invitation to ex-President Rawlings was an open one and not limited to any particular event.
"We also took the opportunity to discuss a lot of other issues which we are taking to the government for further action," he said.
The ex-President was not at the briefing session because he was said to be at another meeting with some members of his team.
On his part, Mr. Bagbin described the meeting as "cordial and candid" adding that "there were a lot of frank exchanges, all in the interest of the nation."
He said the step taken by the government was appreciable but he thought it was unusual that such a high-powered delegation should be sent just to deliver an invitation to the ex-President.
"The delegation has taken note of our concerns which it is going to convey to the President and so we all await the outcome," he told the journalists.
The government’s delegation included Ms Ama Busia, Mrs. Cecilia Bannerman, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, President of the National House of Chiefs, all members of the Council of State; Sheikh Nuhu Shaributu, National Chief Imam; Rev. Dr. Paul Fynn, President of the Christian Council of Ghana; Professor Miranda Greenstreet, former Director of the Institute of Adult Education and His Eminence Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, the Archbishop of Cape-Coast.
The former President’s team included Dr. Mary Grant and Mr. Harry Sawyerr, members of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Prof. Evans Atta-Mills, flagbearer of the NDC; Mr.Edward Doe Adjaho, Deputy Minority Leader; Dr. Kwabena Adjei and Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, Chairman and General Secretary of the NDC respectively, Mr. Tony Lithur, a legal adviser and Victor Smith, a special aide to the ex-President.
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