Accra — This has been a short, but busy, working week for the newly elected president of Ghana, John Kufuor, who is to be sworn in as head of state on Sunday after his presidential election victory on 28 December.
Kufuor has been holding talks about the handover with the man he is set to succeed, President Jerry Rawlings, the former flight-lieutenant, who is bowing out on 7 January after completing a constitutional two term limit of eight years, plus eleven years as a military leader.
The first private encounter between Kufuor and rawlings was a Tuesday courtesy call at an undisclosed destination. The next official meeting bewteen the two men, occurred Wednesday at the Castle, the seat of government and residence of Rawlings. Cameras were present and Rawlings and Kufuor sat beside each other on a three seater sofa, chatting and smiling.
Kufuor called the discussions with Rawlings constructive and cordial and said the meeting augured well for the transition and for the politics of Ghana. The atmosphere, he said, was friendly, with expressions of goodwill and useful criticism between the two sides. Kufuor was quoted as telling Rawlings that he had manned the ship of state well and had come out honourably .
In turn Rawlings pledged his support, saying Kufuor should feel free to contact him. The president urged the people of Ghana to be patient and tolerant with the new government as it faces the challenge of trying to manage the economy. Rawlings promised not to give Kufuor sleepless nights, joking that his own new team would be doing just that.
The incoming and outgoing Ghanaian leaders were accompanied by senior members of their respective presidential entourages, including Professor John Atta Mills, the vice president who lost the election to Kufuor, and the president elect s own running mate Alhaji Aliu Mahama.
As Rawlings saw off Kufuor and his team from the old part of The Castle, once a Danish slave fort, Ghana s new leader was guided around the gardens by the president. Kufuor was shown some coconut trees he said Rawlings had brought from Nicaragua and planted himself which the president proudly told Kufuor were yielding plentiful fruits.
There were discussions the same day in The Castle between President Rawlings, Kufuor and the commanders of the security agencies in Ghana. The incoming president described the talks as positive.
Kufuor noted that the heads of the armed forces had assured him of their loyal cooperation. They are professionals, they are not into partisan politics, said Kufuor. As professionals and servants of the state, they offered their loyal services to the incoming government. I thought that was good .
The president elect had indicated earlier that 'securing the state' would be his top priority, expressing some doubts about the army. We live in Africa and I happen to have been a member of an earlier government which lasted only two years and three months, because some soldiers banded together and overthrew the government , said Kufuor.
His latest statement was more encouraging. He said the meeting with the security heads was only the first, but it was a good beginning , though they were not yet home and dry .
Addressing the security forces at the weekend in a parting speech, to mark the 19th anniversary of his 1981 coup d etat, President Rawlings had also called on the institutions of law and order to serve the new government faithfully, although in a slip of the tongue, he said continue to serve Rawlings , before quickly correcting himself.
Kufuor, and his vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama, are also working on FORMING A new government, some members of which are expected to he announced before the inauguration on Sunday.
One appointment has already been made. The veteran Ghanaian journalist, Elizabeth Ohene, who has been working for the BBC African Service for more than a decade, is the new presidential advisor on public affairs. As Kufuor s official spokesperson, she has already stepped into the role.
On the theme of security, Ohene told allAfrica.com that President Rawlings had assured Kufuor that he would be supportive of the transition and was not in the process of doing anything to destabilize the country, despite rumours about the military in particular.
Kufuor also held talks with the Chief Justice of Ghana, I. K. Abban, who assured the incoming president of his support. Ohene said Abban himself had commented that he was well aware of the many criticisms levelled at the judiciary in Ghana that it has not been impartial, but that he would do his best to correct genuine anxieties about the judiciary.
Justice Abban said he would improve the performance and administration of justice and that the judiciary was not antagonistic towards the incoming New Patriotic Party government. The chief justice said he would always be available for Kufuor should he need any assistance.
Kufuor, himself a lawyer, told Abban that the criticism of the judiciary by Ghanaians was because it had not matched the high expectations of the people, but that his new executive would do its part to help the judiciary do better and raise its standards.
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The president elect said he expected the judiciary in Ghana to dispense justice without fear or favour, ensure the rule of law and respect for human rights. He warned against any Ghanaian creating the impression that we are back to the days when some people believed they were above the law , saying he personally would submit himself to the rule of law, coming into office with restraint .
Ohene, the official spokesperson, said Abban was expected to swear in Kufuor as head of state on Sunday.
She also confirmed that the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, is expected to attend the swearing-in and had sent an advance delegation to Ghana, led by Nigeria s special advisor on foreign affairs, Ambassador Dele Cole.
Ohene said that Obasanjo had sent messages of support to the new Ghanaian president, pledging his assistance. She said the Nigerian leader was particularly concerned about the instability in the region and was happy that Ghana would join Nigeria in trying to restore some stability in West Africa.
