“Rawlings needs psychological attention” Afrifa’s son suggests

He said the vociferous ex-president needs to be examined by a psychologist to determine his mental status.

“Rawlings needs psychological attention because some of the comments his makes cannot come from a mentality stable person” Okatakyie stated.

Mr. Rawlings while addressing people at the closing ceremony of International Youth Fellowship Volta camp at Adidome Senior High School in the Volta region earlier this week justified the killing of some commanders during the military junta.

General Afrifa was one of the military men who toppled a democratically elected government for the first time in the history of this nation in 1966.

On June 4 1979, a group of junior officers mutinied against the ruling military government of the day – the Supreme Military Council (SMC) led by the late Lt. General F.W.K. Akuffo.

But Jerry Rawlings who was also leader of the PNDC regime executed the Generals during the June 4th Uprising for institutionalizing “corruption” on June 4th.

“We had no choice. We thought ‘let two go’. Acheampong and a certain Utuka, very corrupt Generals. They were sacrificed. It was not enough. Ladies and gentlemen, 10 days later, we had to sacrifice another six and some of the Commanders were innocent good people but it had to be done because the rage in the country was too high, too much”, the former military leader added.

But speaking on an Accra based radio station Oman FM Friday, son of the late General said he is appalled by the unfortunate comments by Mr. Rawlings.

According to him, at a time the country has moved on after such atrocities, the misguided statement by the former president has just revived the pain of family members who relatives were killed.

“Rawlings by his actions is revived the pain of relative who suffered as a result of his atrocious acts”. This notwithstanding, Okatakyie Afrifa maintained that that his father’s contribution to Ghana’s politics could not be wiped out even after his death.

He said the late General Afrifa was a great man and who had an extra-ordinary charisma which he used for the emancipation of the oppressed at the time.