This is the belief of former President Jerry John Rawlings.

According to the former President and NDC Founder, some media propagandists sponsored by individuals within the party deliberately twist the truth in what he says to court disaffection for him.

In an address delivered at a Town Hall meeting of cadres and NDC activists at the Arts Centre in Accra on Saturday, Mr. Rawlings extolled Martin Amidu’s virtues as a man of integrity.

He said, “When people in NDC and NPP are equally angry about the appointment of Martin Amidu, what should it tell you? Martin should have been used by us (NDC) but no, we checked him in, when he is an embodiment of what we stand for.”

Making reference to his recent tweets on the spate armed robberies in the country, which had courted some controversy, the former President said “if such reports come out and we cannot analyze them properly then people would always outwit us and our own people would also do the same.”

The former President said he had witnessed a lot of negative actions during the Kufuor, Mills and Mahama periods, noting that, if such negative actions against him come from the NPP he would not have been surprised but coming from his own people was difficult to take.

He said “just as we have many psychiatrically challenged personalities holding bibles with many followers, so do we have in politics too. And if we don’t recognize them quickly and find a way of pushing them out then we are destined for failure.”

‘Marwan Traboulsi’

Responding to allegations by a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that he was protecting Marwan Traboulsi who has a large-scale cargo operation at the Kotoka International Airport, Mr. Rawlings brushed off the business link and described Mr. Traboulsi as a brilliant and efficient personality who turned around cargo handling operations at the airport.

“I will defend him any day as one of the most efficient and brilliant minds that I have come across. He was one of the first to go into large-scale farming and the export of pineapples during the revolution. Others did the same but his operations were so efficient that he was doing much better than some of the others. He later secured an aircraft that not only exported his produce but that of other farmers,” Flt Lt Rawlings said.

Traboulsi later left farming and diversified into cargo handling where his efficiency won him a bid to manage cargo handling at the airport.

“His efficiency level was so high we could beat South Africa by 30 minutes in cargo handling operations. Today, some want to spoil the names of good people just like we do in our party,” the former President stated.

Other speakers at the event were Mr. Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere, Dr. Hussein Inusah, Professor Kodzo Gavua, Dr. Donald Agumenu and Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor.

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Rawlings chided the NDC governments under the late Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama for failing to take full advantage of the expertise and abilities of the outspoken anti-corruption campaigner.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YM36wjpOcpPo3c9jMp7xilAb5dqQDbHa”]He commended President Akufo-Addo for appointing Amidu to head the new office, stating that the new Special Prosecutor possessed the qualities needed to root out corruption in the government.

“To think we could have utilized somebody like Martin Amidu many years ago from Prof. Mills to our friend John Mahama. Instead we avoided him, we ostracised him the way we do with people like my wife and me. It takes somebody from a party completely opposed us, Nana Akufo-Addo to come and appoint him, not as a Minister of State but as [Special] Prosecutor. We ought to give him credit,” he told journalists at the State House during the final funeral rites of the late mathematics and science Professor, Francis Allotey.

“[Martin Amidu] will help to clean up the situation. He’s going to help us restore integrity back into governance that you can’t get into government and with impunity, steal and corrupt institutions and get away with it. If you don’t trust Martin Amidu, then don’t trust anybody.”

Mr. Amidu was sworn in on Friday, February 23, 2018 at the Flagstaff House by President Akufo-Addo in the presence of the Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia; Chief of Staff Frema Opare; Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo and other government officials.

The former Attorney General received unanimous approval from Parliament earlier this week, despite a pending suit at the Supreme Court over his eligibility for the position.

The Deputy Ranking Member on Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Dominic Ayine, is seeking a declaration that Mr. Amidu, who is 66-years-old, cannot hold public office because he has exceeded the mandated age limit per the 1992 constitution.

But the former President dismissed those claims, describing it as an insult to suggest that Martin Amidu’s age could stop him from carrying out his mandate.

“Do judges stop thinking? Judges can stay on till they are 70. The President is above 70 and I am as well. It’s an insult. Maybe there’s something wrong that needs to be changed as far as those figures are concerned. He’s a man to be very proud of,” he said.

‘Integrity and honour’

Following his swearing-in, Martin Amidu promised not to fail in delivering on his mandate to fight corruption in the country, saying that not even claims that he will embark on a political witch-hunting drive will deter him from working.

“I have given Mr. President my word of honour that I will discharge the duties of the burdensome you have entrusted to my care with similar integrity and honour with your support. Mr. President, I want to assure you that the propaganda about witch-hunting will not daunt me from prosecuting all corruption crimes without reference to political considerations…I will treat crime as crime and nothing else,” he assured.

President Akufo-Addo also reassured Martin Amidu, that the independence of his office will not be compromised by the executive or any other arm of government.

He said the office will be provided with the needed assistance to effectively deal with corruption and eliminate same.

“I want to assure him that not only will the Executive including the Attorney General respects scrupulously the independence of his office, but will also provide him with whatever assistance is required to enable him to discharge his high duties effectively in the interest of the Ghanaian people,” he said.

About the Office

The setting up of the office of the Special Prosecutor was one of the key campaign promises made by President  Akufo-Addo ahead of his election victory in 2016, and it is aimed at tackling corruption effectively.

The Special Prosecutor’s office will be independent of the Executive, which observers believe will allow it to adequately deal with corruption-related issues which have plagued past governments.

The office of the Special Prosecutor has the mandate to investigate and prosecute cases of alleged corruption under the Public Procurement Act 203 Act 63 and other corruption-related offences implicating public officers, political office holders and their accomplices in the public sector.

The Prosecutor is also be mandated to trace and recover the proceeds of corruption.

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Kofi B. KUKUBOR

“Fellow Ghanaians, as you will notice, we are not playing the national anthem. In other words, this is not a coup. I ask for nothing less than a REVOLUTION-something that will transform the social and economic order of this country. Fellow citizens, it is now left to you to decide how this country is going to go from today. We are asking for nothing more than the power to organize this country in such a way that nothing will be done from the Castle without the consent and authority of the people. In other words, the people, the farmers, the police, the soldiers, the workers you – the guardians- rich or poor, should be part of the decision-making process of this country.” Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings (December 31, 1981)

A Revolution

A revolution most often result in fundamental changes to socio-political power or organizational structures over a period of time. This maybe in a form of complete change from one constitution to another, significant modification of existing order, or a complete paradigm shift in socio-political and organizational structure of a society or nation. History is replete with Revolutions and is always characterised at the initial stage by violence and overthrow of an existing order.

Characteristically, revolutions arrive on the back of wide social breakdown, extreme suppression, and excessive corruption by people who have been entrusted with power to govern. A revolution is a process intended to achieve targeted objectives over a period of time.

Antecedents to December 31, 1981 Revolution.

Since 1961, economic growth of Ghana was very unstable and unpredictable, fluctuating between negative and positive growth. The volatile economic instability made it difficult for any investment to happen in Ghana. In 1975 Ghana experienced its worst GDP performance which stood at -12.4% and GDP Per capita at -14.5%. As at December 31, 1981 GDP growth was -3.5% and GDP per capita growth -6.2%. Inflation under the Supreme Military Council Regime in 1977 was 116.45%, in 1978, 73.09%, and in 1981 under the PNP (Hilla Liman) was 116.50%.

Kalabule, the jargon for extreme corruption was prevalent. This act was championed by government officials and their associates which brought about untold hardship of the masses. The economy was out of control and the country was described as a collapsed State by some of the international donors.

Political administration of the country was paralyzed as the Hilla Liman led People’s National Party (PNP) government due to political indiscipline, internal division and rancour, and a sabotage by parliament in refusing to approve the national budget submitted for parliamentary approval. This brought the government machinery to a standstill.

On December 31, 1981, a confederation of the military and civilian population led by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, launched a revolution by overthrowing the Hilla Liman government. A government of Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) was born to execute the ideals of the Revolution.

Major Socio-Political and Economic Changes from December 31, 1981 to January 7, 1993

Economy

Faced with these extreme socio-political and economic challenges, the PNDC tinkered its original Revolutionary Socialist ideals with some liberal economic policies to stabilize the political-economy and to lay sound foundation for economic take of.

Sweeping economic reforms to revolutionized and to “structurally adjust and stabilize” the economic foundation were carried through the Economic Recovery Programme, (ERP) from 1983 to 1986. The financial sector was also declining and was mainly characterized by ceilings fixed for interest rates, credit guidelines for different sectors, ceilings fixed for credits etc. However, in 1987 the rules pertaining to minimum deposits as well as maximum deposits were abolished. The foundation for the liberalization of the banking, insurance, and financial investment institutions was established through the implementation of the Financial Adjustment Programme (FINSAP). In addition, tax reforms were initiated which culminated in later years in the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT of 10%) 1995 to secure government revenue base, which today funds most government public expenditures.

These economic recovery programmes liberalized the economy and positively impacted the financial sector, the agricultural sector, foreign direct investments (FDI), etc. By 1984 GDP rose to 8.6% though it declined to 3.9% in 1992, Ghana’s economy has since not gone back into negative growth since the revolution. By 1992, inflation that was 116. 5% was brought down to 10.1%.

Agriculture

The agriculture sector responded positively to these reforms. Cocoa production that was 246,500 tons in 1981 increased to 312,122 tons in 1992. Cassava production increased from 2,065.000 tons in 1981 to 5,655.000 tons in 1992. Other cash crops for export increased which boosted the country’s revenue generation. In recognition, the Farmers’ Day was instituted in 1985 to celebrate and award gallant farmers and fishermen whose output was about 30% growth in 1984.

The positives of the PNDC agricultural policy and programme extended to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from which resulted in the recognition of Ghana’s Food Production Index of 148% for 1995-1997 as “the third highest achievement in the record after Jordan (157%) and China (156%) in the World Bank’s “1999-2000 Development Report.

Local government (Governance Structure)

The political administration of the country was overhauled as decision-making was “moved from the Castle to the people” through the People Defense Committee (PDC) system.

The governance structure which was overly top-heavy in decision-making was devolved through the People Defense Committee (PDC) system. When the Rawlings led PNDC established the People’s Defence Committees (PDCs), a system of cooperatives, it became a unique move never before seen in Ghana’s political economy, and was a precursor to the decentralisation policy of Ghana. The PDCs were established in every village, workplaces etc. For effective administration, it was structured in unit committees of 100 persons, zonal committees, and the assembly. This structure later formed the bedrock of the Local Government administration.

As one of the main political preoccupations of the PNDC, in January 1987, Jerry John Rawlings announced radical changes to be introduced in the local government elections. No cash deposits were required of candidates for district level elections, illiteracy in English was no longer a disqualification so as to accommodate non-English speakers in the District Assembly and to make assembly debates accessible to the majority of constituents, and District Assembly elections were to be nonpartisan. 110 district assemblies were created and in 1988 the first District Assembly elections were held. Education, infrastructure developments, and healthcare all devolved to the district level. Annual government subvention were mandated by law to the district. A system uncommon and unimaginable in many other African countries.

The PDC system created political awareness and politically empowered citizens which were denied them by previous governments. By implementing the decentralization concept, Rawlings inherently instituted a transition from authoritarianism to multi-party democracy.

Infrastructure and Others

The December 31, revolution carried out extensive reconstruction of the country. SSNIT housing projects were undertaken in all the Ten regions to house public sector workers, accessibility was facilitated by constructing roads to link and open up the northern sections of the country such as Brong Ahafo, Northern Region, Upper East and Upper West which were once ignored by previous governments. Pavilion structures were built in all the 110 districts to make basic education accessible to all and two secondary schools per district was initiated. Regional and District hospitals sprang up, and electricity that was ‘housed’ only in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi was extended to all parts of the country. Information accessibility was increased by extending Television coverage across the country.

Female entry and graduation rate at basic to tertiary education increased. For example, percentage of female graduates in tertiary education rose from 13.9% in 1981 to 24.4% in 1987. Though it declined to 21.5% in 1992, it has kept an upward trend since the birth of the Revolution.

Rural entrepreneurship among women was vigorously pursued by the PNDC government by empowering rural women, capacity building, and the establishment of cottage industry accross the country. The entrepreneurship drive among rural women was also championed on the other hand by the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings through her December 31, Women Movement. The rural women were also easy for political mobilization in support of the Revolution.

The Road To Multi-Party Democracy

After the reconstruction of Ghana which was the objective of the PNDC government, agitation for the future political direction of Ghana started to emerge. This compelled the PNDC government to begin the process to return the country to Multi-Party democracy.

After internal debates which centred on dissolving the PNDC to allow the two traditional parties (i.e. CPP, and NLM &PP traditions) to continue with the return to constitutional rule, the Cadres of the revolution (revolutionary organs and Rawlings fan clubs) insisted on forming a new tradition and a political Party that will protect the gains of the Revolution and underpinned by the principles of probity, accountability, transparency, and social justice. The principles that sustained the Revolution. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was born out of this revolutionary progressive concept. The fourth republic was also born out of the Revolution.

The Political Stability by A Political Personality

The revolution would not have been successful had it not been characterised by the political stability that the PNDC government firmly established. Since the overthrow of Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, successive governments were changed through the barrel of the gun. The December 31 revolution put a stop to all coups which brought immense growth and benefits to the country.

As Chazan (1983) stated, Rawlings, unlike many other leaders in Ghana’s history, subsequently led the country through the difficult years of economic recovery and succeeded in giving back to Ghanaians their national pride. “Without Rawlings’ strength of character and unwavering determination, Ghana would not have survived the Economic Recovery Programs (ERPs) of the 1980s put in place by the ruling Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).” Rawlings saw his leadership role to be that of a “watchdog” for ordinary people and he boldly confronted issues of incompetence, injustice and corruption.

Conclusion

After over two decades of multi-party democracy, the moral integrity and value systems that underpinned the modest gains of the revolution have fast eroded. Eventually, its corrosive impact on the physical (socio-political and economic) gains of the revolution is also being significantly felt by Ghanaians. Even the NDC that ‘evoluted’ from the Revolution has been battered with the ills of past that compelled the launch of the December 31, 1981 revolution.
NDC is at a crossroad to either decay, or to restore its value system of probity, accountability, transparency, and social justice which will significantly prop up its social democratic philosophy. The democracy of Ghana was born out the revolution and therefore has its tenets which are in the DNA of the NDC. Within the current NDC “It is rather unfortunate that there are still some of our brothers and sisters who imagine that the past decade can be wished away; simply as an uncomfortable dream and that the new constitutional era, will inaugurate a period of “business as usual” with all the negative practices of the past. These ladies and gentlemen should stop whistling in the dark and realise that they may be condemned to repeat history if they ignore its lessons”. Capt. Rtd. Kojo Tsikata (1991)
Some Ghanaian do like the idea of democracy but want to forget the revolutionary origins of democracy, we cannot sanitize democracy without its struggle, without the masses, and without ordinary people. (paraphrased) Kojo Tsikata, 1988.

As the NDC and the people of Ghana commemorate the 36th Anniversary of the December 31 revolution, it is imperative to be reminded of the history and identity of the NDC. It is an identity that has defined the character of the NDC and which has endeared it to the masses. Deviation thereof from these ideals will lead to rejection thereof by the masses. Once more, “we indicate our determination to alter the state of affairs inherited from the past in which democracy meant plenty for the rich; starvation for the broad majority, and a lack for sensitivity for the plight of the poor”.(Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings 1989). Let NDC unite around the principles of probity, accountability, and social justice to reorganize so as to restore the value systems that are critical in the reconstruction of Ghana.

GOD bless the Revolution
GOD bless the NDC
GOD bless the people of Ghana.
Aluta continua! !

–

The writer is a Governance and Policy Analyst, and member of the Central Planning Committee of the 36th Anniversary of the December 31 Revolution Commemoration.

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It is true that where leadership is found, problems do not find comfort. However, these days, the front of immorality and lawlessness seem to have found its peak of comfort in our society – from the avalanche of galamsey, down to open rebellion in the courtroom, and up to the dastardly acts of lynch mob. The search for probity and accountability to knit the moral fiber of our society – to deal with these cankers – has not yet been found. In these situations, where leadership is lost, lawlessness reigns in the society.

When we look across the leadership of this country today, we will find no other than former President Rawlings whose zest for morality remains unmatched. Although there is a lot fear in the world right now, the relatively peace and stability that have occurred in Ghana since 1982, were executed by his bated breath, as a reward for the struggle for freedom and justice.

In our modern Ghanaian society, the order of society is by laws. But the question is: how well do the laws of our society support morality? A law must protect the values of society. For this reason, a law which does not relate to society is no law, and as such, a violation of law. Morality and law are mutually inextricable. As morality is a set of guided principles or behaviors of individuals, it is brought forth under coercion by social laws.  Right and wrong, in the context of morality, are derivative of the dynamics of time and space.

In addressing moral issues to the crowd, His Excellency the former president made a fervent allegation of corruption against the erstwhile government – which he believes led to the defeat in the general elections. The question that comes to mind is this: could it be that what caused the defeat of the Party under his government in the year 2000 general elections was also corruption? Perhaps, if avoiding corruption is the index proposition to win an election, then some Parties in opposition would not pass the test to contest in an election.

In as much as corruption could be part of the cause of election defeat, the entire problem of apathy which affects the results of elections are usually against the ruling Party after every 8 years. In the recent general elections, while NDC lost a maximum of 872,410 votes from the previous elections, NPP added a minimal of 433, 807 votes from the previous elections – amidst all the promises and the smear campaign of corruption by then opposition Parties.

Corruption is a product of a social raw-material. It is never a cause, but an effect of a weak governing system.

This weakness is attributed to the structures of a system or an institution. When a system is strong, the tendency to abuse it is intrinsically inept and avoidable. Abuse of incumbency, hitherto known as corruption, is endemic in weak systems or institutions. Therefore, when former President Mahama allegorically spoke of the “lame horse”, he was in reference to the institute of the Party. Ideally, the strength of a Party across all levels will ensure that the leadership that it produces is strong to ride the horse or the Party to its desired destinations.

Again, I do not sincerely believe it was appropriate for the Party Founding Father to call for the withdrawal of the Party National Executives – on the basis of corruption. Once more, the fundamental questions to ask are: will corruption in the Party stop outright if these executives resign?  What happens to members of the Party who do not seem to imbibe within them the ideal or traditional elements of the Party?

Leadership emerges out of the people, and the great ones emerge out of crisis. When Ghana’s economy was growing negatively from 5% to 7% with an inflation of 54% in 70’s, in addition to smuggling and ‘kalabule’ characterized by shortages, lack of foreign exchange and with almost everything breaking down, the situation provided the revolutionary atmosphere for the change of social order and life of Ghanaians. The dynamism of such situation makes it easier to excite human patriotism and to mobilize people to face prevailing problems which threaten their lives.  Unfortunately, that dynamism does not exist today. The dynamic of a time determines the leadership, and no man can put a full stop when God’s finger is moving.

It appears that the former president, because of his ardent desire for the goodness of society is still nostalgic of the June 4^th era, and believes that the dynamic of that era still operates. There is no doubt that former president has a prestige. He rescued Ghana from the precipices and racks of humiliations. He still bask in it, but there is a veiled warning from a quote by Andrew Young, an African – American Civil Rights Activist, and a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations during Carter’s administration: “influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you have.”

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By: Michael Sumaila Nlasia ([email protected])

The post The 38th anniversary of June 4 uprising: Matters arising appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The rather awkward spectacle occurred as dignitaries arrived for the final State of the National address, delivered by outgoing President, John Mahama in parliament on Thursday.

Former President Rawlings arrived at the House and was walking on the red carpet into the Parliament building, when the MP-elect walked to him to greet him.

Without any clear sign of a response from the former President, the latter continued to walk on Rawlings’ side up the stairs.

A clearly irritated John Rawlings as captured in a widely circulated video, gestured for the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive to step aside.

The Accra MCE heeded and trailed behind the former President into the building.

It is unclear if there exists a fracas between the two individuals, but some social commentators speculate that Mr Vandepuije may be one of the many people in the NDC the founder has consistently slammed for their corruption and irresponsible conduct in office.

Mr. Rawlings has already blamed the party’s electoral defeat on corruption and impunity.

Below is the video

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According to Kofi Adams, a close associate of the Rawlings family, the party is yet to carry out an exercise to identify the real reasons for its loss in the December polls, and that it will be unfair to accuse the former President of being responsible.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vTdW0Mbc7xMfDr2vmjjmUwr1fcEkbqPx”]“We went into the elections with the hope and desire to win. We did not win the elections. Leadership would have to take the responsibility for our inability to win the elections. Let us blame nobody, especially our founder.”

“Those of us in active leadership at the national, regional and at all levels, should take responsibility for what has happened and let us focus for the next agenda which is making sure that once we hold the government to its promise and also make sure that no matter what we get back to power to continue the great job that the country deserves,” he said.

The NDC’s Greater Accra Regional Organiser, Anthony Nukpenu, in a Citi News interview, accused Mr. Rawlings of contributing to the defeat of the party by constantly labeling the Mahama government as corrupt, an allegation he said the NPP used against them.

But according to Mr. Kofi Adams, “Nobody has done any research to show why we lost, and until we have done so, the blame game must cease, and our former President and founding father must be allowed to have his peace while we work around a strategy to bring everything on board.”

Some political analysts have attributed the governing NDC’s loss in the elections to the recurring corruption scandals under the Mahama-led administration, as well as the arrogance posture of many of the government’s appointees.

The NPP won the December presidential polls with 53.85% of the total valid votes cast, against the NDC’s 44.40%, the worst defeat to have been recorded by a sitting President who was seeking a second term in office.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

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