Rawlings denies traveling with Mahama's delegation to Ouagadougou
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has explained that he travelled to the inauguration of the new Burkinabe President in Ouagadougou on his own and said attempts to classify he and his wife as part of President John Mahama’s delegation was unfortunate.
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A statement issued on Monday morning from the Flagstaff House Communications Bureau and signed by Mr Stan Dogbe said former President Rawlings and his wife were part of President Mahama’s delegation to the inauguration.
But in a response the office of the former President has said Mr Rawlings was invited last two weeks by the outgoing Burkinabe President, Michel Kafando to attend the inauguration of newly elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
In a statement, the former President’s office explained that he [Rawlings] traveled on a military aircraft to Ouagadougou in the company of his wife and three others.
“It is unfortunate that the author of the release [from the Flagstaff House], privy to the fact that the former President was also travelling to Burkina Faso, albeit in his own capacity and upon a separate invitation decided to play mischief with the content of the official presidential release.”
Below is the full statement
The attention of the Communications Directorate of the office of His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, has been drawn to inaccuracies in a statement issued by the Flagstaff House Communications Bureau, indicating that the former President and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings were members of the President’s delegation that traveled to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for the inauguration of Jean Marc Christian Kabore as President of Burkina Faso.
The Directorate wishes to state that the former President and his wife were not members of President Mahama’s delegation and finds the misrepresentation unfortunate.
Outgoing President Michel Kafando invited his Excellency Jerry Rawlings by a letter dated 18 December 2015. The former President and his wife travelled with a delegation including Betty Akuffo-Amoabeng, Kobina Andoh Amoakwa and Joseph Dawson-Otoo.
President Rawlings and the delegation travelled on a military transport aircraft.
It is important to note that upon arrival in Burkina Faso, the former President and his entourage were met by Burkinabe State Protocol and the Ghana Embassy and driven to their hotel and subsequently to the venue for the ceremony.
President Mahama arrived later with the Presidential aircraft and a delegation that included Foreign Minister Hannah Tetteh, Dr. Edmund Dele and others.
It is unfortunate that the author of the release, privy to the fact that the former President was also travelling to Burkina Faso, albeit in his own capacity and upon a separate invitation decided to play mischief with the content of the official presidential release.
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