Let's Not Toy With NDC's Mandate - Rawlings

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has said that the NDC cannot afford to toy with its mandate to correct the wrongs it inherited in the past. He lamented that the Government was lethargic in taking the high moral ground and cautioned that if the Government failed to seize the virtue of justice from the onset, it could not succeed at implementing its political agenda. Speaking during a solidarity call on him by a delegation from the Korle Klottey Constituency of the Greater Accra Region on Friday, former President Rawlings said 2012 might be a problem "if we did not change the corrupt practices". I am afraid if we do not act we will entrench a ruling class (NPP) on us, but we cannot allow that to happen. Touching on the Rokko Frimpong and Mobila murders, the former President said it was unfortunate that men of the junior ranks in the military were the ones facing prosecution while the senior officers and the political leaders who initiated those actions had been left off the hook. The former President noted that though the fire disaster at his residence was a distraction, he would not allow that to divert his focus on the myriad problems facing the country. Former Accra Hearts of Oak Chairman and now Constituency Chairman for Korle Klottey, Harry Zakkour, on behalf of the members donated foodstuffs to the former first couple. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who received the items on behalf of the family thanked the constituency members numbering about 200 for their kind gesture and called on all who had memorabilia or documentation on the former first couple to endeavour to assist them to rebuild their library. The former first lady thanked God for saving their lives and praised her second daughter, Yaa Asantewaa for waking her up from a deep slumber. "If she had not been around a different story would have been told." Earlier the former first family had played host to a delegation of chiefs and people from the Eastern Region led by the Regional Minister Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and his deputy, Baba Jamal. The former President Rawlings urged members of the party, especially the Mills Administration not to allow the destruction of his residence by fire to distract them from delivering the promise of change to Ghanaians. He said he was grateful to all those who sympathised with him on the great loss, but added that 2012 was just around the corner and that the government needed to put things right because "if we abdicate our responsibility nature will take its course". Former President Rawlings who described the destruction as the "wiping away of our history� said the biggest problem in Ghana is that we should not allow this to occupy us, because if we continue this way, nature will take its course. According to former President Rawlings, the impact of the harsh economic situation created by the Kufuor administration was not easy and urged the Government to accelerate its pace of addressing them. He said time was far spent and that the earlier the Government worked assiduously to ensure that the people had confidence in them, the better, because Ghanaians were forming their opinions for the 2012 elections. The Eastern Regional delegation donated a white ram, seven crates of white eggs and a carton of fruit juice. Mr Ofosu Ampofo said the people of the region were disturbed by the destruction of the former President's residence and were thankful to God that no life was lost. Also at the Ridge residence to share the former President's pain were members of the diplomatic corps led by its Dean, Togolese Ambassador Jean-Pierre Gbikpi-Benissan. Ambassador Gbikpi-Benissan said the diplomatic corps were shocked at the fire outbreak and were at the residence to express their sympathy. Muslim Chiefs from Abokobi-Madina also called on the former first family to commiserate with them on Friday. Last week Thursday, the Christian Council of Ghana also called on the former President and his wife to express their sympathies. The Chairman of the Council, Rt. Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong Manso, expressed the council's sympathy to the Rawlingses and were thankful that they were alive and well. Former President Rawlings thanked the Christian Council and charged them to monitor the nation by advising the Government and other stakeholders to be sensitive to the plight of the ordinary people. He stated that increases in the prices of basic social amenities were a major source of worry and must be a matter that should concern the clergy too. Others who paid courtesy calls last Thursday were the American Ambassador to Ghana, DonaId Teitelbaum, the chiefs and DCEs of Keta/Dzelukope, Togbe Afede, Paramount Chief of the Asogli Traditional Area, wives of senior army officers, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Barima Professor Azumah Nelson and the Ghana Insurers Association.