<<Print>>

Ghana�s former ambassador to Serbia, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has accused President Mills of displaying �gross arrogance� by saying he would hand over power in 2017, instead of his constitutionally mandated first four year term which ends on January 7, 2013. According to Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, President Mills� comments - made when he addressed the 3rd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church at Ho in the Volta region - is indicative that he (President Mills) sees the 2012 election as a foregone conclusion. �After all, when I was sworn into office on the 7th of January 2009 I was given a peaceful and stable country, and I want to assure the people of Ghana that come January 7, 2017 I will hand over a peaceful nation� President Mills told the churchmen. Commenting on the Citi Eyewitness News of Friday August 19, 2011, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said �I am very much surprised that such a statement came from the president. His comments smack of gross arrogance. �Is he trying to tell us that there would be elections in 2012 or if he loses the elections in 2012 he is not going to hand over or he feels 2012 is a foregone conclusion? �This is very amazing, all leaders are re-elected based on their performance and it is going to be based on his performance that the people of Ghana would give him the mandate. �The way he is going now, there is no way the people of Ghana would give him the mandate in 2012 and he should take a cue from Rawlings and Kufuor who handed over when they knew that it was time for them to hand over. �He said he would hand over the country peacefully in 2017, that is what he said, he totally ignored 2012 which is very crucial period for an election in this country and that is why I said what he said smacks of arrogance.� In an earlier response to the president�s pledge of a free and fair election, the Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea told listeners of the Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday August 18, 2011 �One agrees with the president, there is a legacy that has been handed over to him, President Kufuor conducted elections that were held by a knife�s edge and yet still the handing over was done peacefully to President Mills so that is the legacy that he has to live up to and I am happy that he has pledged to live up to that legacy. �I am also happy that he says that it has to be a joint effort which means that it is equally the responsibility of all the parties to make sure that everybody conducts themselves in a proper manner; that nobody employs incumbency to intimidate and harass other people. �If we can have that situation, I am very sure that President Mills will live up to the pledge that he has made�. Citing the violence that characterised the bi-elections that have been held under the NDC administration, Nana Akomea argued that the President must back up his words with actions. He suggested that such violence must be met with stiff sanctions to prevent its recurrence especially during the general elections.