Describing the whole saga as a “media-political circus” in a statement on social media, Mr. Rawlings said, said the investigative processes must be adhered to without recourse to emotions.

Following some complaints of police brutality towards the persons who protested the arrest of Mr. Anyidoho, he also advised the police to be more humane and avoid excessive force.

pic.twitter.com/hx6qOGU3FQ

— Jerry John Rawlings (@officeofJJR) March 28, 2018

Mr. Anyidoho was picked up at the International Press centre on Tuesday to assist the police with investigations and eventually spent Tuesday night in the custody of the police after being charged with treason.

Police have since been given permission to seize all electronic devices belonging to Mr. Anyidoho by a High Court.

The court gave permission for all electronic gadgets including laptops, iPhone and iPads, believed to store information related to treason in the premises of Mr Koku Anyidoho to be seized to aid the police investigations.

Mr. Anyidoho landed himself in hot waters when in an interview on Accra-based Happy FM, he suggested that President Nana Akufo-Addo will be overthrown because of the ratification of the controversial defence cooperation agreement between Ghana and the US.

He said the overthrow will be in the form of a “civilian coup d’etat”.

The host of the show on which the comments were made, Kwame Affrifa, has also been invited by the police to aid in their investigations.

Support from Mahama

Another former President, John Mahama, has not shied away from overt support of Mr. Anyidoho.

On Wednesday, Mr. Mahama criticised the Police for what he described as their ‘high-handed’ responses to “innocent” Ghanaians who massed up at the Police Headquarters on Tuesday night in solidarity with the arrested NDC national executive.

In a Facebook post, the former President chided Akufo-Addo government for the manner in which Mr. Anyidoho was arrested and later charged with treason.

He, however, did not make mention of the comments made by Mr. Anyidoho which have been widely condemned.

Mr. Mahama later visited Mr. Anyidoho at the Bureau of National Investigation’s headquarters.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Act maturely over Anyidoho’s arrest – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“If your love for the party has declined just leave the party,” he dared.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Monday, Mr. Smith accused Mr. Rawlings of backing his wife who left the NDC, to form the National Democratic Party (NDP).

Victor Smith, who was once was Mr. Rawlings’ spokesperson but fell out with him, gave the advice following what he calls incessant attacks and criticisms of the NDC by the party founder.

Former President Rawlings at the least opportunity takes on members of his party accusing them of failing to uphold probity and accountability which are the tenets on which the party was built.

He said the NDC party while in government sidelined members who had integrity in the likes of Martin Amidu, and went in for others who had influence but had no integrity thus lead to the party’s defeat.

He also wasn’t fully present in the party’s campaigns in the last two elections in 2012 and 2016.

Stop Rawlings now or forget 2020

Mr. Smith has called on leadership of the NDC to call Rawlings to order, or pay for it dearly in the 2020 general elections.

According to him if they fail to stop Rawlings from further attacks, it could have dire repercussions on the NDC’s chances in the upcoming elections.

“If the party leadership does not do anything about it, then we will have a very tall order…if they do not do anything about it to have the problem resolved now, it will be very difficult for us to win [the 2020 election].”

“When I say we should deal with him, I mean they [NDC leadership] have to stop him [Rawlings] from doing what he is doing….his remarks have been creating problems within our party. If the party leadership does not rectify it now for the progress of the party, then there is a possibility that we may not win 2020 election,” he noted, urging the NDC leadership to be “bold” and take a decision against the party founder.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Leave NDC if you want – Victor Smith dares Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Amissah-Arthur said the outspoken National Democratic Congress (NDC) founder must not be vilified for speaking his mind on issues of national interest.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SmuSjM1DN3rKJ8YjVdjkeHq1QwBXiRsd”]Mr. Rawlings has, in recent times, offered praise to President Nana Akufo-Addo, whilst remaining critical of the leadership of the party he founded.

This has led to public utterances against Mr. Rawlings from notable NDC members, with some even blaming him for the party’s 2016 election defeat to NPP and further calling for his expulsion from the party.

Since the NPP’s election victory, Mr. Rawlings has been seen to be offering public support to President Akufo-Addo on many fronts, including the latter’s commitment to fighting corruption leading to concerns from some NDC sympathisers that he is siding with the enemy.

But Mr. Amissah-Arthur, who was on the losing side of the 2016 election as a running mate, said suggestions that Mr. Rawlings is disloyal are farfetched.

“I don’t know what this thing about romancing is. When he attends the State of the Nation, people say that he is romancing the NPP. I say that he is a former President of the Republic. We paid him as President for eight years. It means that we have taken his life as ours and for the next 20, 30 years, as long as he lives, he is our property and he should participate in all those things.”

“So when he attends national events, I don’t think he is attending it because he is romancing one side or supporting the other side,” Mr. Amissah-Arthur said.

Rawlings says it as it is

The former Vice President also reminded that Mr. Rawlings has never shied away from attacking his own party, even when he occupied the top office.

“Even when he was President, he would take his own government appointees on at rallies… he is a non-conformist. He believes in such things that he will talk his mind. Whether you like it or not, that is how he thinks.

Mr. Amissah-Arthur said despite the constant opposition he faces, there are still people within the NDC who appreciated Mr. Rawlings’ approach.

“I think that we in the NDC, we appreciate it so much because we know where [Rawlings] stands so we don’t think that he is being disloyal to the NDC. We also see him as a beacon who says it as it is.”

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Rawlings not ‘romancing’ NPP – Amissah-Arthur appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In his response to the contentions, Mr. Rawlings intimated that it was even an insult to think that Mr. Amidu was incapable of executing his duties because he was over 60 years of age.

[contextly_sidebar id=”dKDSLOhxAjxwZQRtn7pxRe2SIzP2mVet”]He further noted that even Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, was over 70 years and that judges, who are allowed well past the age of 60, still preside over cases.

“Have the judges stopped thinking? Judges can stay until they are 70. The President is above 70. I am 70. That is an insult. Maybe there is something wrong that needs to be changed as far as those figures are concerned,” the former President remarked.

Mr. Rawlings also reiterated his approval of the appointment of Martin Amidu as the country’s first Special Prosecutor, stating that the former Attorney General will restore the integrity of governance in the country.

Ayine’s suit

The Deputy Ranking Member on Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Dominic Ayine, is currently before the Supreme Court seeking a declaration that Mr. Amidu, who is 66-years-old, is not qualified for the position.

He filed his suit on February 12 ahead of the vetting of Mr. Amidu by Parliament.

In his argument, he said the Office of the Special Prosecutor falls under the broad category of public officers who by the constitution must retire by age 60 with a possible extension to 65 years.

Mr. Amidu has since received unanimous approval by Parliament and was subsequently sworn in as Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor on Friday.

Amidu not served with lawsuit

Meanwhile, Mr. Amidu has said he has not received any writ from the Supreme Court supposedly challenging his eligibility for the position.

“I wish the public to know that nobody has served me personally with any writ or statement of case or injunction challenging my nomination, approval and appointment so as to restrain me from accepting this appointment,” he said during his swearing-in on Friday.

Mr. Amidu said the lack of any writ or injunction against his role gives him the opportunity to serve in the position without any hindrance.

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Suggesting Amidu is too old to serve ‘insulting’ – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Lawyer Adumua-Bossman was part of a legal team that included Tsatsu Tsikata, which defended Rawlings when he was facing trial on May 15, 1979, for an attempted coup.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as well as present and past ministers, were all at the State House to pay their last respect to the late Adumua-Bossman.

The former president, Rawlings posted a tribute on his Facebook wall eulogizing the late lawyer and described him as “a champion of the underprivileged – a man who maintained a simple and modest lifestyle.”

Below is the full tribute by Jerry John Rawlings:

A FAREWELL TO LAWYER ADUMUA-BOSSMAN

I joined hundreds of mourners including President Nana Akufo Addo to bid a final farewell to Lawyer William Adumua-Bossman at the Forecourt of the State House on Friday. Below is my tribute to a distinguished personality.

For many Ghanaians, Lawyer William Adumua-Bossman was the head of the legal team, which included Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata that defended me when I was arrested and put on trial on May 15, 1979.

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Rawlings pays last respect to late William Adumua-Bossman [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Flt Lt Rawlings stated that, “the current government owes its own survival to the anti-corruption crusade,” explaining that some administrations who found the integrity level of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) too high and intimidating made it a point to corrupt some of “our national institutions in order to survive.”

Rawlings made the remark when he received a delegation of political leaders from Sierra Leone led by former Vice-President, Chief Sam-Sumana on Sunday.

He noted that, governments that fail to punish corrupt officials provide a favourable climate for the crime to thrive.

“By the time this administration came into office, the country was literally drowning in the practice of corruption with impunity. This administration has therefore inherited national corruption at its worst,” Mr. Rawlings stated.

Former President Rawlings told his guests that the revolution brought the best out of the people.

He recalled several efforts supported by Western powers to derail the process, including the deportation of one million Ghanaians from Nigeria under Shehu Shagari’s administration.

“The expectation was that, the revolution would have to be collapsed in order for Shagari to survive. Unfortunately, the revolution survived and Shagari had to go, unseated by General Buhari who seemed slightly out of touch with the prevailing political climate and subsequently had to be unseated by General Babangida. We survived because the people felt they owned the process,” former President Rawlings said.

Chief Sam-Sumana, who was dismissed under controversial circumstances in 2015, informed the former President that his delegation comprised leaders drawn from several political groups in Sierra Leone and the diaspora, who had decided to come together as a coalition to contest the country’s next election.

The former Vice-President said the group recognized President Rawlings’ ideals and desire to see a better Africa, describing him as a man who served as the foundation for the renewed development of Ghana after the demise of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

“We look up to you as a role model because of the peace and stability you brought not only to Ghana, but to Sierra Leone and Liberia during your tenure as Head of State,” Chief Sam-Sumana said.

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘NPP inherited national corruption at its worst’ – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Elders such actions bring the party’s “good name” into disrepute.

A statement signed by Vice Chairman of the NDC’s Council of Elders, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu and sighted by citifmonline.com, said the “… Council invites party members to desist from ventilating their grievances in public through the electronic, print and social media etc and thereby bringing the good name of the party into disrepute.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”kIj1A4RfXhve4aDfb7Lna1wGPQb4Ht5Z”]According to the statement the decision was decided in a meeting held on August 22, 2017 under the chairmanship of the party’s “founding father.”

This directive comes on the back of some seeming tension in the party invoked by an article written by former Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Valarie Sawyer who took on party founder, Jerry John Rawlings and former Attorney General, Martin Amidu.

Dr. Sawyerr complained about some comments made by the two saying it contributed to the NDC’s defeat.

Her comment was followed by a petition sent to the party by some NDC members demanding the suspension of Mr. Amidu.

But the Council of Elders in the statement called for calm adding that they have started implementing recommendations from the Prof. Kwesi Botchway’s Election Review committee.

The statement added that the party has further started a healing and reconciliation process to that effect and urged party members to use party structures in resolving their grievances.

“As part of the process of implementing the salient recommendations of the election review committee in resolving the internal conflicts and differences, the council has put in place teams to visit the various regions and team up with regional representatives to undertake the process of healing and reconciliation.”

“And for the avoidance of doubt, the process of healing and reconciliation has commenced within the Council of Elders itself, Functional and National Executives as well as other leading members of the party. Council entreats and urges all members of the Akatamanso family to remain calm and fully support the process of healing and reconciliation,” the statement added.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Cease fire now – NDC to disgruntled members appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Mr. Rawlings, such practices were contrary to the values upheld by the NDC, describing them as a “betrayal of the values of June 4,” which are probity, transparency and accountability.

“Nobody is saying don’t make money, make it good and clean; but not some of the ones I know; sickening, that kind of greed and selfishness, look at where it landed us. Or is it because this government is not behaving the way Kufuor did in his time, so we think we are okay? I know what’s going on. I know some of the things they are running into,” he added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AswKaShJXvGOCf8bWzulxbtQF0iIWnM0″]Former President Rawlings made the remark when he was addressing NDC members in Wa in the Upper West Region on Sunday to mark the 38th-anniversary of June 4 revolution.

He further lamented that, the corruption that bedeviled the NDC when it was in power was about a thousand times more than what warranted the June 4, 1979 uprising, which led to the execution of some Ghanaian leaders.

“Let me remind people that we could not have possibly forgotten that generals were executed in 1979 in the rage and anger because of corruption. The greed, corruption and injustice of today believe it or not are a thousand times more than what these generals were executed for.”

“And if we are unable to restore a fair measure of integrity into our dealings, then the blood of many would have been shared in vain. If we cannot get our cloths off and allow for fresh leadership to emerge then we shall sink even further,” he added.

Rawlings calls for complete overhaul of NDC

The NDC founder also used the opportunity to call for a complete overhaul of the party’s current crop of leaders.

This he said was the only way the party could come back strong for the next election in 2020.

“Not too long ago, I thought we heard the jockeys training the horses were responsible for this disgraceful failure while one of the horses was bold enough to lay the failure at the step of the jockey. For me we lost our masses because we betrayed the values of the June 4^th. However, if this horse jockey business cannot be resolved comprehensively allowing integrity to prevail then let both of them step aside and allow for fresh leaders with solid integrity to provide the needed leadership,” he added.

“…How we can grab so much money and now use it as political weapon to perpetuate and be kingmakers. If I was doing it this way, if any of my colleagues and I were doing it this way would any of them be where they are today? No. we believe in justice and fairness, true democracy,” he added.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Greed, corruption caused NDC’s “disgraceful” defeat – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The young cadres made a clarion call on the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to revisit the ideals of the party as part of efforts to rebuild it for victory in 2020.

Numbering about five hundred, the young cadres marched from the Emefs Police station along the main Akosombo road to Afienya, where they converged on the main lorry park to address the charged members.

Addressing the crowd who were joyfully chanting and dancing to NDC tunes, the spokesperson for the group, Oko Mensah, noted that the walk was supposed to remind themselves of the ideals of the party and also remind the party hierarchy of concerns raised by the grassroots for possible redress.

“This walk is the first of its kind in the constituency and it is geared towards reminding ourselves of the ideals of the party now that we are in opposition. It is important we do the right thing as a party and believers of June 4”

He said “the party was formed on three values which are; probity, accountability and social justice, and these values are still relevant today hence the celebration of the day.”

Mr. Oko Mensah noted that, the 2017 theme for the June 4 celebration, which is ‘Probity, Accountability and Truth in contemporary governance’, is very much appropriate, and must be deeply thought through by every member of the party.

He urged all to think over the theme and work towards it to ensure the victory of the party come 2020.

The Chairman of the NDC in the constituency, Jonas Tetteh, also sent a signal to the party leadership in the constituency to ensure they follow the laid down procedures in the upcoming NDC constituency branches re-organisation exercise.

“We are sending a clear message to our party leadership in the constituency to think through the theme for this year’s June 4 event and do the right thing in the branch re-organisation or face our wrath. We must work together as a team and a party so that ultimately we achieve a common victory in 2020.”

Some of the members of the young cadres who spoke in an interview, were happy the young cadres in the constituency put together the constituency June 4 March to remind them of the relevance of the day.

“We are happy for this march today because we feel it is about time, we revisit the ideals of our party and act accordingly to ensure we wrestle power from the NPP in 2020” they said.

Rawlings to address grand June 4 durbar in Wa

Meanwhile, former President Jerry John Rawlings will climax this year’s June 4 anniversary with a grand durbar in the Upper West Regional capital of Wa on Sunday June 4, 2017.

A statement issued by the June 4th Anniversary Planning committee said the leader of the June 4 uprising and Chairman of the AFRC, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, will be the keynote speaker at the durbar to climax activities marking the 38th anniversary of the uprising.

–

By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ningo Prampram Young Cadres march to mark June 4 revolution appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Addressing a large crowd of people at the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Waala Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Pelpuo IV, the former president said “this should serve as a wake-up call to all of us; to government, the law enforcement agencies, the courts to wake up to our responsibilities in order to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”sPipmrczrieze2o0Qx5vMEPWgebaX7qv”]He expressed grave concern about the way criminals are allowed to go off the hook after flouting the law.

“This did not start today. It started quit a few years ago. There are quite a few others before this one but not much has been done.”

The former President man expressed confidence in Ghana’s legal system, but blamed government for failing to crack the whip on perpetrators of crime in the country.

“Had we reacted appropriately as a government, there is no doubt in my mind that this kind of brutal cruel behaviour could have gone on for this long.”

Capt. Mahama, who was deployed to the Denyira-Obuasi community in the Central Region region together with his colleague military officers to wage war on illegal mining, was lynched by residents of the area after they mistook him for an armed robber.

Mr. Rawlings condemned the act, describing it as “uncivilized” and charged the police to speed up investigations into the matter.

“The sooner some ways are found to contain this irresponsibility, the better for all of us,” he added.

He warned that the nation will soon be heading into an abyss if government continues to allow people with unlawful conducts.

The former military leader is in the Upper West region to climax the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the June 4 revolution and to mark his 70th birthday.

He was met by a crowd that filled up the principal streets of Wa on Saturday to catch a glimpse of him after 8 years of his absence in the region.

–

By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Capt. Mahama’s death a wake-up call to state institutions – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.