Counsel for the Ghana Palaver newspaper, David Annan has dared the army to categorically deny meeting the President to plot a state of emergency ahead of the upcoming election. Until such a denial, the palaver says it still stands by its story. “Just saying they (Army) had no such meeting does not preclude the fact or possibility of such a meeting or event taking place. We want a categorical and clear cut denial that it will never take place before the election.” Speaking to Citi FM’s eye witness news, Mr Annan maintains that will be the only grounds under which the Ghana Palaver would retract and apologise. The newspaper last week published a story claiming President Kufuor met with service commanders to assist in plotting a state of emergency ahead of the election to ensure the continuous stay in power of the Kufuor administration. According to the story, Army Commander Major General Odotei, who fiercely resisted the plan, is to be prematurely retired, with his position taken by Major General Ayiku. Checks revealed that Major General Ayiku died last year and could not have been part of that meeting. But counsel for the newspaper claims that was the only anomaly. Major General Okyere he contends would be the replacement for Odotei and not Ayiku as earlier reported. The story did not go down well with the government as well as the Ghana Armed Forces and therefore referred the case to the National Media Commission (NMC) for redress. Executive Secretary of the NMC George Sarpong has asked the Ghana Palaver to substantiate the story or retract and apologise accordingly. But counsel for the paper said they will not substantiate, retract or apologise, adding, that they are under no obligation to do that. “The NMC is not a court of law to ask us to substantiate their duty is to mediate and resolve disputes” He insisted. He said if the government or the army wants an apology from the palaver, then there has to be an open declaration that Major General Odotei will stay on as Army Commander of the Ghana Armed Forces. The NMC says the Ghana Palaver has seven days to officially respond after which a decision would be taken. Author: Nathan Gadugah