In a historic first, President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday morning held an official meeting with his predecessor, John Agyekum Kufuor since assuming office in 2009, at the Castle, Osu.
The close-door meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, afforded the two statesmen the opportunity to “discuss matters of mutual, national and international interest.”
Earlier, Mr. Kufuor, who would not dwell much on the discussion, told journalists “….I am all ears to hear what the President has to say. I am sure the two of us are joined by the national interest which must be managed with necessary decorum and circumspection. You don’t play it in public,” he stated.
Indeed prior to the meeting, the grapevine was swirling with the news that issues concerning ex-President Kufuor’s ex-gratia, as well as issues relating to the seeming political polarization in the country and what roles the two could play in ensuring peace and tranquility would be discussed.
Moments after the remarkable meeting, peacefmonline.com caught up with spokesperson for the ex-president, Frank Agyekum, who disclosed that both President Mills and the former President pledged their firm commitment to deepen democracy. Mr. Agyekum, who refused to give details of the discussion, however, described the meeting as cordial and frank.
“unofficially, they’ve meet at public functions but today’s meeting is the first official meeting between the two…it’s a new chapter in our democratic governance…,” he added.
Though, unsure if it will be an annual affair, Mr. Kufuor’s spokesperson stated that admittedly the two agreed the meeting was long overdue.