Rawlings attacks ‘cowards’ in Ghana

• Posted on June 7, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has taken a swipe at persons he described as cowards who react insultingly to his observations about how corruption is affecting the progress of the country.

Speaking at the 37^th commemoration of the June 4 uprising in Accra last Saturday, he disclosed that his outspoken demeanor against corruption was met with disdain and abuse from “cowards” who feel they are untouchable because of their ill-gotten wealth at the expense of the masses.
“I have spoken a few times about these serious observations and received the usual abuse and tribulations from cowards who in their delusion assume their ill-acquired wealth makes them untouchable, regardless of the power and conviction of the ordinary hardworking and liberal people of this country.”

According to him, the path the country is treading particularly in the past year is derailing developmental efforts.

Political and social disorder exhibited over the past 12 months, he noted, is slowly eating up the country like a “tumor.”
Former President Rawlings said, “Developments over the past year on both the political and social front have once again exposed the extent of political and social disorder and dishonesty that is eating our country up like a malignant tumor.”

He stated that what happened on June 4, 1979 was an expression of rage against corruption and the raid of the country by some political and military leaders at the time.

The commemoration, which took place at the Revolutionary Square, opposite the Flagstaff House, was attended by Brg. Gen. Nunoo Mensah (rtd), Huudu Yahaya, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ben Kumbour, Minister of Defence, Dr. Kwame Ampofo of the Energy Commission, Ayeribi Acquah and Antwi Bosiako Sekyere of the Presidency, as well as traditional authorities and other sympathizers of June 4.

President Rawlings explained that the revolution produced the halting effect of what Jesus Christ did in the temple when people were gambling and selling in the church, pointing out that within that period the nation finally had justice.

“Let’s not be so dishonest, unethical, immoral as to pretend we did not know what brought about the succession of coups since 1966,” Rawlings warned.

He said that June 4 is not about me but the collective action and cries of the people to demand justice, accountability and probity.

President Rawlings, who regretted the abuse and misuse of the judiciary, police and other security agencies and state institutions, remarked that many of the supporters of the revolution have hidden behind the cloak of democracy to insult and label him as the errand boy and also turned into lords over grassroots persons whose sweat have made them what they are today.

He stressed that though the rot has caused a high level of damage to the fabric of society and national economy, there was still room for such perpetrators in government and other places to repent.

Former President Rawlings, who also spoke extensively on what he described as indiscriminate destruction of the environment especially water bodies and vegetation, warned that it was time the right cultural practices were put into action to fight the consequences of climate change.

“Trees play very important role in helping to enrich the balance of nature and unless we learn to apply this rule, all other actions will lead to drawing the desert into the country,” he warned.

By Solomon Ofori