The office of former President Jerry John Rawlings has debunked a statement issued by Flagstaff House Communications Bureau which suggested that he was part of President Mahama’s entourage to Burkina Faso recently.

The former president was invited last two weeks by the outgoing Burkinabe President, Michel Kafando to attend the inauguration of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Communications Directorate of the former president’s office in a statement pointed out that Mr. Rawlings travelled on a military aircraft to that country 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 satement

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 travelled 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.