AMA Boss Eats Humble Pie�.As Prez Mills Denies Issuing Apology

His Excellency, President J.E.A Mills, has denied ever apologizing to the Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye, following publications by two leading state owned newspapers, �The Daily Graphic� and �The Ghanaian Times�, that the President has ordered the suspension of the demolition exercise being carried out in some parts of Accra. Spokesperson for the President, Mahama Ayariga, however, admitted that the President did indeed placed two calls to the Accra Mayor, but stated categorically that the President did not issue any apology. Dr. Vanderpuiye had organized at a press briefing on Tuesday to react to publications in two leading national newspapers in Accra that President Mills had ordered the Mayor of Accra to suspend the decongestion exercise in the city. "President Mills being the decent and gentleman that he is, called me twice on Tuesday morning between 0800 hours and 0900 hours to apologize for the publications and I accepted his apology in good faith. He will always remain in my eyes, a great man and good friend whom I have uttermost respect," he said. The two state owned newspapers, Daily Graphic and The Ghanaian Times reported on their front pages on Tuesday December 22, that President Mills had issued a directive to the Accra Mayor to discontinue, the decongestion exercise, currently ongoing in the central Business District of Accra. However, Mr. Ayariga was emphatic that His Excellency, President Mills, has made no such apology. The Presidential Spokesperson said the President, Prof. Mills as a matter of fact met with the Mayor, Mr. Alfred Nii Vanderpuije at the castle recently in a close-door meeting. Mr. Ayariga, who did not disclose what the President and the Mayor discussed, said the issues were about concerns of the public, adding that "the discussion was on how to properly do the right thing regarding the decongestion exercise." He said it is strange that a meeting which is supposed to be a closed door one has been reported in �Graphic� and in �Times�, with certain aspects of the story accurate. Interestingly, in a quick turnaround, the Accra Mayor ate humble-pie when he conceded in an interview on Citifm that �the word apology is my word, and i take full responsibility for its usage�. Meanwhile, President Mills has given the assurance that his administration will allow the wheels of justice run its natural course by fully implementing recommendations contained in the Ghana@50 Committee of Inquiry Report, adding that �there will be no witch-hunting� in the process. According to him, �the report will be studied�and there will be no witch-hunting in implementing the report�Whatever action has to be taken will be taken no matter what...,� he stressed. President Mills stated these when the Ghana @ 50 Commission presented its final report on the activities of Ghana@50 celebrations and its findings to him at the castle, Osu, today. The President said at the end of the four year term of NDC they will also avail themselves to processes of accountability regarding their stewardship. The Chairman of the Ghana@50 Commission, Justice Isaac Duose, said the aim of the investigation is mainly not to jail people. �Lessons learnt from the investigations is useful as it came out clearly that some appointments made consisted of incompetent people,� he said. At a Press Conference at the castle, when asked whether some people would be prosecuted, he answered that some may be prosecuted, if the president also deems it fit to do so after studying the report. On whether there is financial loss he answered in the affirmative.