The US has three surviving former presidents. They are Bill Clinton (Democrat), George Bush Snr. (Republican), Jimmy Carter (Democrat) Gerald Ford (Republican). They have an equally impressive array of living former vice presidents.

These former presidents and vice presidents each in his way is providing sterling service to his country. President Jimmy Carter is widely acclaimed to have been more effective out of office than when he occupied The White House.

All over the world, the number of former heads of state and government are on the rise and they are generally expected to play roles of elder statesmen/women helping their countries to build on whatever good legacies they left.

In the West African sub-region, Nigeria has more former heads of state than any other country. President Olusegun Obasanjo, himself a former military head of state is now cohabiting with five former ex-heads of state. They include Generals Abubakar Abdul-Salami, Ibrahim Babangida, Mohammed Buhari, Yakubu Gowon and Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

In Ghana following the coup of 1981, a lowly-placed, not particularly distinguished officer called Rawlings, overthrew a constitutionally elected government and became head of state.

In 1992, through contentious elections in which he became contestant, rules-maker, and referee, he converted himself into a quasi-civilian head of state. In 2000, the people of Ghana, through one of the freest elections in the country's political history, did away with his 19-year rule and opted for a new dispensation. He overnight became a former head of state - a title he has been carrying uneasily these past four and half years.

In the US where it is traditional for ex-presidents to comport themselves with dignity, decorum and civility towards the current president, and are considered repositories of knowledge and information, they play very pivotal roles when supra-partisan inputs are required in times of national or international emergencies.

Even in Nigeria, a developing country like Ghana, five former heads of state, four of whom are from the military, are giving much elbow room to the current president to perform his constitutional duties, The above cannot be said of Ghana where ex-Flt. Lt. Rawlings has decided he would not let go the reins of power he once wielded and today has set himself on a collision course with the Government of Ghana.

It may sound unlikely, but it is common knowledge that he is planning to cause so much trouble for the government that it would fall before the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections are held. He has not hidden this desire with his "We cannot wait till 2008 for justice" refrain.

Ominously, and perhaps apocryphal, a list of 400 people, including politicians, journalists, intelligence/security officers, business people and other "enemies" is said to have been prepared for elimination should there be a successful overthrow.

Some intelligence sources have also told ADM that the ex-Flt.'s threats are but a ruse to divert all attention to his tantrums, whilst those who would do the "dirty work" for him are left unhindered to strike and take the country by surprise.

Indeed, from what ADM has gleaned from intelligence sources, "something" was to have happened in August but God and sharp intelligence scuttled it, And so as former heads of state in other parts of the world continue to provide nation-building efforts, Ghanaians are having to grapple with the unpleasant prospect of whether because of one man they should settle scores in the fashion of Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda et al,