Former President Jerry John Rawlings, as founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), needed to make sure the party survived, but “whether he has played that role effectively, he has a conscience, and I’ll leave it for his own conscience”, the Director of Elections of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, has said.
He made the comment when host of Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show, Moro Awudu, asked him about how members of the NDC “should treat” Mr Rawlings following the party’s defeat in the 2016 elections, especially in the face of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s show of appreciation to the former president during his victory speech.
In that speech, Mr Akufo-Addo, then president-elect, said: “To the senior citizens of our country who have given me invaluable advice over the years, amongst them, the former President of the Republic, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Kofi Annan, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. J.B. Danquah, the Chairman of the NPP’s National Council of Elders, the veteran statesman, C.K. Tedam, and Captain Kojo Tsikata, erstwhile PNDC member responsible for National Security, I thank you for your counsel and for sharing your wisdom with me, and hope I can continue to count on you during the challenging period ahead of me.”
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said: “I don’t know the motivation and what has taken place between the two of them [Mr Akufo-Addo and Mr Rawlings] but I feel strongly that President Rawlings is the founder of the NDC and has a lot of responsibility to ensure that the NDC survives and keeps on surviving.”
Following the NDC’s defeat, Mr Rawlings, at the 35th anniversary ceremony of the 31 December 1981 revolution, said the party must carry out some “introspection” and identify the factors for its loss instead of pointing an accusing finger at him for its electoral misfortune.
He said the party leadership, by losing the “moral high ground”, with its “crass display of wealth” had betrayed and left a “very gaping gap” between itself and the grassroots, occasioning its defeat in the elections won by the opposition NPP.
Mr Rawlings, who founded the NDC in 1992 following Ghana’s return to democratic rule and led the party to win two successive elections afterwards, was speaking at the Revolutionary Square in Accra.
The former military man had stayed away from the NDC’s campaign for the last two elections while his wife broke away from the party four years ago to form her own party.
He said: “…Rather than facing the obvious truth about why we lost, Rawlings once again has to be made the scapegoat of their failures. I believe this time around our people have seen through it and we will embark on the right steps to regain our moral high ground, the moral high ground that we abandoned and on which the new leader is now standing. Think about it,” he said.
According to him, the party would be better served in the aftermath of the outcome of the 2016 polls to do some “careful introspection and openly show remorse for the betrayal of the people’s trust”, lest it would not “recover in time for the next election”, adding: “This is the time to pre-eminently speak the whole truth frankly and courageously.”
Source: Classfmonline
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JYD and Co,which human institution has got problemsome? Inspite of sharp difference between Koffour and Akuffo Addo,he put everything behind and ensured the party never got tattered though yet to. As a founder, when he was in power how many corrupt allegations people didn't make against his appointees? The likes of Adjei Marfo, Late Victor Salome,captain Tsikata himself, Tsatsu, Obimpe, Mama Adams, Peprah, Konadu Agyemang Rawlings herself, Kwasi Aborah etc,did he sacked them?. Didn't people support Rawlings to Rule? At a time Kufour wanted to prosecute Konadu Rawlings we demonstrated against them and all NDC stood behind them and they rescinded their decision Captain Tsikata should know that NDC did not abandoned his brother Tsatsu when he was jailed for corruption and was released from prison. Now Captain Tsikata, Rawlings and Konadu are NPP advisors? They did not allow Mills to have his time to govern and frustrated Mahama too. Mahama is gone and they should take their party and see who will vote for them. It's shows greedy and selfishNess That is why made a mistake when he appointed Kofi Adams as campaign manager. They all frustrated Mills. Bunch of greedy people
Oh! Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, I respect your. Don't behave as if you don't know what was happening when your Party was in power. Why did the former President Jerry Rawlings who signed your Party constitution with his own blood turn away from his NDC Party? Why did he look on while his wife formed her own party? Did you hear Nana Agyeman Konadu Rawlings advicing Nana Addo to prosecute all Party members who have stolen public money? Why did former President describe some of NDC government appointees as "Babies with a sharp teeth"? Ofosu Ampofo where were you when former Transport Minister Dzifa Artivor pleaded with her Voltarians to vote massively for NDC otherwise she may go to jail? Have you forgotten Asiedu Nkatia and the barking dog? Why do you finger your Party founder with your defeat?
ASIEDU NKETIA and cronies caused the NDC'so failure. You remember his photo with president Rawlings way back. I need someone to post that photo again on the imternet. He was looking at Rawlings with awe. As if the man was his God to General Mosquito who dresses in smock thinks he is a warrior doing battle. Then you ask yourself how did he lose the battle he claimed he was fighting. The only time NDC won an election in Ghana was when the founder of course campaigned. ASIEDU NKETIA should apologize to Rawlings and offer to start humbly afresh by doing housekeeping in Rawlingss' home. A job as volunteer service to community as atonement for his "bad mouth." Then suddenly he turns himself into
Ofosu Ampofo you said it all, he is the founder of the party and no matter what anybody said about him, you hold your integrity above water and hold what you started to hold, now Mr Rawlings your party is in opposition and we will all see if you can bring them back to power. NPP said they are in forever and we want to tell you, if you are not able to bring the party back, we will ask questions. Party is numbers JJ.
Ofosu Ampofo why are you grumbling. When Asiedu Nketiah said "The barking dog have been caged" where were you and what did NDC do to Asiedu Nketiah. Again when the same person, Asiedu Nketiah, said Rawlings was too old to be involved in the 2016 elections what did NDC say to him (Asiedu Nketiah). To win back the confidence of Ghanaians, you first have to check your mouth.