Former Director of Communications at the Presidency Koku Anyidoho says he never regrets being over protective of late President John Evans Attah Mills while he was in office.
According to him, given the vicious and antagonistic nature of some of the private media houses against the Mills regime then, he had no option than to shield the Presidency at all times, adding that if he had another opportunity he would have even done more.
Some media houses such as Oman FM, Daily Searchlight and Daily Guide, and senior Journalists including Egbert Faibille, Ken Kuranchie and Alfred Ogbamey respectively were banned by Koku Anyidoho from entering the castle which was then the seat of government to cover programmes.
In an interview with Fifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa show Tuesday, in memory of the third anniversary of the death of late President Mills, Koku Anyidoho who is currently a deputy Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC) stated that President Mills’ meek demeanor didn’t mean that he should be unjustifiably attacked by the media always.
“It was a decision that I took not to allow such people to visit the Castle, the fact that President Mills was an accommodative person, didn’t mean that we should allow the hawks to chew him up. Yes! I protected him and given another opportunity I’ll not hesitate to do that again, if not even more”.
Koku further disclosed that there were few times that President Mills wasn’t happy with some actions he took as his official spokesperson.
President Mills and I had our own moments of disagreement. I remember his son joined his campaign team in the run up to the 2008 election, he wanted it to be a private thing, but I said people are accusing you of being irresponsible, claiming that you have a son and he is not able to even come near you, and you want to be quiet about his presence? I took the step and made it public, you should have been there to see how he reacted, that was the first time I saw him in full rage and anger, however it simmered down later and we moved on”.
By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana
