UN Chief Didn’t Say Mills Is Best African Leader - Anyidoho

The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Koku Anyidoho, has contradicted the report by the Daily Graphic Newspaper, that the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon described President Mills as the best leader in Africa.

The UN Chief, who had made a stopover at the Kotoka International Airport on his way to witness the investiture of Ivorian President Alassane Ouatarra, basically lauded President Mills for his role in the peace process in that country, and extolled his stance during the crisis.

But the nation’s best selling Newspaper, the Daily Graphic in its edition of Monday May 23, quoted the UN Boss as saying President Mills was the best leader on the African continent.

The publication has been described as an exaggeration and an attempt by Government to make cheap gains of the UN Chief’s commendation particularly because President Mills’ position during the conflict in Ivory Coast was perceived to be inconsistent.

According to Mr. Koku Anyidoho, the UN’s Chief’s commendation vindicates the President of criticisms that he supported former Ivorian Leader Laurent Gbagbo, and that he was also allowing Ghana to be used for an uprising in Ivory Coast by Gbagbo dissidents, who are seeking refuge in the country.

But in relation to the exact comment made by the UN Chief, Mr. Anyidoho told Citi News Mr. Ban Ki-Moon only acknowledged President Mills as one of the best leaders in Africa, and not the best leader in Africa as reported by the Daily Graphic.

Mr. Anyidoho made this revelation after he had been hit with the question severally by the Host of the Citi Eyewitness News, Shamima Muslim.

“The reporter ought to be asked that question” Mr. Anyidoho said in response to the question.

He went on further to say “I was there when President Mills was interacting with Ban Ki-Moon. I heard him (Ban Ki-Moon) say that President Mills was one of the best leaders in Africa touting his democratic and governance style. That I heard him say. The important thing is that Ban Ki-Moon has commended President Mills'governance style and thinks that his leadership style is auguring well for Ghana, the West African sub continent and for Africa as well. So the commendation is clear" Mr. Anyidoho noted.

For now, Mr. Anyidoho’s claim and that of the Daily Graphic cannot be independently confirmed since the excerpt of Mr. Ban Ki-Moon’s interaction with President Mills available to Citi FM, does not include either of the two statements.

Source: citifmonline.com