<<Print>>

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has kicked against the sharing of money and cutlasses to National Democratic congress (NDC) members in order to buy votes in the election of party executives. �I wish to take this opportunity to caution members of the NDC who are gradually bringing the sanctity and moral integrity of the party into disrepute by attempting to skew the polling station and constituency elections in their favour. �There are reports of potential contestants being denied access to forms, rendering them automatically ineligible to contest these positions. Some I hear are offering inducements such as money and cutlasses and using party machinery to undue advantage,� he said at a durbar of chiefs at Aflao in the Volta region of Saturday. The former President repeated his call on President Atta Mills to restore the confidence of Ghanaians in his administration, saying that the joy that characterized the victory of the National Democratic Congress has suddenly disappeared over a period of time, adding that Ghanaians are disappointed with the style of his administration.�This government is almost one year in power and the energy and excitement that greeted its victory in the last elections have all dissipated. Our people may be quiet, but there is a lot of seething anger and dissatisfaction about the manner we have accepted what we inherited and sometimes we seem to embrace that with open arms,� he lamented. Mr. Rawlings said part of the problem could be attributed to the advice to some sycophants within the rank and file of the party who have hijacked the Presidency, which he predicted, would lead to chaos and deeper disappointments in a few months to come if it is not corrected immediately. Rawlings noted that even though the NDC government means well for the people Ghana, the advice of these sycophants who are motivated by parochial interests is a source of great worry to him and other concerned Ghanaians. �The President we elected is a capable man but he can only succeed if those behind him make it clear to him that the path he is cutting is crooked. If we tend to put up sycophantic behavior and always say the path is straight hoping for personal favours, we are bringing doom to our people, I hope our ministers and MPs are listening,� he stressed. He claimed that the slow pace of the Mills Administration, coupled with disappointing manner in which things are moving, could also be attributed to some old government officials who are still occupying various positions which he alleged, is a threat to the party�s fortunes, adding that unless these people are removed and replaced with more committed ones, things will remain slow. The ex-President was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the Aflao Traditional Area in the Volta Region last Saturday at the 42nd Godigbe Festival where he and other personalities including Lieutenant Colonel Charles Agbenaza (rtd), Professor Ernest Dumor and Corporate Affairs Manager of MTN, Mawuena Dumor, were given awards. He pointed out that he sees nothing wrong with his public criticisms of the party�s performance, disclosing that it is better to say some of these things publicly than sweep them under the carpet. �When we have matters on our chests, we need not hide behind closed doors, we make that clear. I do not have any desire to upset the presidency as many tend to say in the media,� he added. He showered praises on his wife and regime. The ex-President did not complete his speech without lambasting the past government, claiming they have looted the nation�s purse, which he said is also contributing to the poor performance of the government of the party he founded. He cautioned party members to desist from acts that will mar the ongoing polling station and constituency executives. Tigbui Fiti IV, the Paramount Chief of Aflao, commended the awardees, especially the ex-President, for his immense contribution to the development of the nation and called on others to emulate them. Togbui Fiti pointed out that a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for a reason for which he and his people decided to honour those who, according to him, have done so much for the nation.