Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings (rtd) has been pencilled in for what is technically described as an advisory position with national security, in a star-studded cabinet of an Atta Mills Government, which also lists Dr. Tony Aidoo, the slow speaking tormentor-in-chief of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), should the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which appears to be on the upsurge, regain power.

Information about Dr. Aidoo's inclusion in the Mills cabinet, had been gathered by Chronicle intelligence, but it was when an NDC fly-sheet published the information, that Tony would be made the substantive Defence Minister, ostensibly on his previous status as deputy Defence Minister in the NDC cabinet of Rawlings, and Board Member of Ghana Cement Works, that lent some weight to the speculation.

It is not uncommon for presidential aspirants to put down some names, as probable candidates for positions, before they win.

The Chronicle has learnt, through various sources close to the Mills' camp, and sources close to Nana Kofi Coomson, who flirted with, and personally re-constituted the board of Ghana Cement Works, and recommended the strategic switch of Tony Aidoo from the board, and his replacement by Mr. Kwesi Agbley, a Director of Western Publications, publishers of The Daily Guide and friend of the Chronicle Publisher, Nana Prah Agyeinsam, and Mr. Ishmael Yamson, Chairman of Unilever.

The 62 year old former President, who has repeatedly echoed Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi's vengeance agenda, has reportedly leaned on the learned professor, to cede the position to him, because his curriculum vitae was known to be especially brilliant on security issues, something that academics locally and internationally acknowledge.

Not for him issues of the economy, or energy, but from his background in flying - he won the speedbird trophy in his time in the Air Force -, his interest has always been with the military and national security, aided by his fellow soldier pal Captain Kojo Tsikata (rtd), also playing the role of national security chieftain.

The scenario is set to trigger bedlam, as a sign of a blood curdling reign of terror in a Mills administration, should the elections favour him as the next President. If German intelligence favouring Mills, as the next President is to be believed, then the country should brace itself for an Atta Mills presidency.

The clue that Rawlings can get anything done for him, and any position he covets, was given credence when the revered Professor executed a classic cart-wheeling act, and snubbed a national award preferred by President Kufuor, in spite of a prior agreement to accept it.

Mills issued a press release, alluding to the controversy surrounding his award, as too shrill to be reconciliatory. "We expected Mills to be steely in character and be his own man, but when it mattered most, when he was confronted with a litmus test of his courage, he buckled down .when the old man coughs, Mills runs for cover," observed one watcher.

Noted Nana Kofi, "I expected him to stand up to Jerry, but he could not. I have studied the learned Prof for a long time. It seems to me that the late Arkaah had more balls and withstood Rawlings' bully-boy antics better than Mills, and stuck to his office like a leech when Jerry made it clear he did not want him."

On July 03, this year, he changed his mind about the award he was to receive.

With the discussions on whether or not the former President, could be appointed to serve in a cabinet position, or play an advisory role under an Evans Atta Mills presidency, most constitutional lawyers observed that it would be unconstitutional, but it was generally considered that the position of the Executive President was too powerful, that Mills could find a way to meander Rawlings to any position he wants, particularly into the position of National Security Coordinator, because he does not require vetting. What is more, his budget is not charged to the Consolidated Fund, so he has vast access to the treasury, and runs an unaccountable imprest.

The legalistic position is that section 68 of the 1992 Constitution, debars Mr. Rawlings to serve, because the nation was a duty-bound to cater for him until death.

The Chronicle sampled the views of Mr. Maxwell Opoku-Agyeman, a lecturer at the Ghana Law School on this, and also that of Mr. Kojo Asante, a constitutional lawyer with the Ghana-Centre for Democratic Development (CDD). Dr. Benjamin Kumbour, the NDC Member of Parliament for Lawra-Nabdom, and Prof. Gyimah Boadi, the Executive Director of CDD, and Mr. Tony Lithur, a legal luminary.

Most of them said no, to any position to be occupied by the former President under the presidency of Prof. Mills, irrespective of the fact that he was the founder of the NDC.

According to Mr. Maxwell Opoku-Agyeman, it would be wrong for any incoming president to appoint, Mr. Rawlings in any capacity.

He said as far as he was concerned, with the provisional constitution, the former president was debarred from holding any official position.

On his part, Mr. Kojo Asante also shared similar views with Mr. Opoku-Agyeman.

Prof. Gyimah Boadi, could not state his point, except to say that he would not be in a position to comment fully on the governance implications, based upon the position of the constitutional lawyers.

Mr. Tony Lithur, a legal luminary, declined to make official remarks on the assertion, but said public comments were now restricted to issues about the incarcerated Tsatsu Tsikata.

Dr. Benjamin Kumbour, one of the legal brains of the NDC, stated that the difficulty with the debate, on whether the former president could be given an appointment in an advisory position, was that there could not be an appointment. When asked to quote the specific part of the law, that gives credence to his argument, he said, "Basically he retires with his conditions of service, meaning that he can't occupy any position of profit."

The two names evoke great fear and trepidation in the national consciousness, and the NDC has gone to great lengths to distance Mills from Rawlings, but whether it is a deliberate game of make believe, or an act to put up appearances, remain to be seen.