Former President Jerry John Rawlings has described the interventions of June 4 1979 and December 31 1981 as effects of the mood of the country at the time and called for the context and circumstances of the period to be factored when telling the story.
Addressing a durbar to climax the 38th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution at the Winneba Lorry Park on Tuesday, the leader of the two uprisings said those leading the distortion of the history are cowards and said we will face them firmly. “We will tell our story!”
He called on adherents of June 4 and December 31 not to allow the distortions of “our history to continue…Those who have allowed corruption to rear its ugly head, and permitted it to fester, want to belittle the discipline, the law and order we introduced into this country, so they can justify their corrupt tendencies.”
Many, he indicated, had today forgotten the circumstances that gave birth to June 4 and December 31 with some spending huge resources to sponsor the distortion of the history through outright lies, half-truths and rendition by cowards who run away during those heady days.
The former President said, it was unfortunate that some had chosen to leave out the overwhelming gains made by these interventions, focusing only on the negatives.
LESSONS LOST
Flt Lt Rawlings cautioned that, “an important lesson is going to be lost on this nation because a handful of warped minds, full of hate and bitterness are being paid to distort and cover up events in our history with callous stories and lies.”
The Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council, that ruled Ghana between 1982 and 1992, questioned why we sit and allow these perfidious characters to get away with these lies and deceitful machinations through the power of the media all to the detriment of the nation?
The former President said, “the lighting of the perpetual flame and the laying of wreaths is to show reverence to all who sacrificed their lives during that difficult time in our country. Let no one downplay those sacrifices through historical distortions, twists and utter fabrications.”
UEW
Touching on the controversies surrounding the University of Education Winneba (UEW), the leader of the revolution commended government for instituting a roadmap for a peaceful resolution of the matter of over 20 dismissed staff of the University, stating however, that no significant progress had been made over the past three months.
“More than 20 dismissed staff at the UEW are going through discontent and pain. I hope this important matter is given the urgency and attention that is required,” the former President implored.
Earlier in the morning former President Rawlings and his delegation paid a courtesy call on Nenyi Ghartey VII, President of the Effutu Traditional Council, before proceeding to the durbar grounds where a parade and wreath-laying ceremony was held ahead of the durbar which was also addressed by NDC flagbearer former President John Dramani Mahama, NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia and a host of cadres and leading members of the NDC.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
For 19 years Rawling's face was the face of Ghana. When Akatapore, Chris Atim, Sarkodie Addo, Malik, etc told us that he is the only honest man left in Ghana. For 19 years you Rawlings told your story unchallenged and those dared to challenge you vanished. You see how the world is? It is only the truth that would endure to the end.
In principle, I abhor any form of Military Coup d et al. However, when a group of soldiers succeeds in their plot to overthrow a civilian regime they have no business to stay in power for a longer period than the Rawlings case in Ghana. I believe he tries hard to justify this with Revolution, to make it look less adventurous as a mere group of Junior soldiers taking power from a Military Regime for their own personal ambition. Kotoka's Coup instated Military Regime which lasted for 3 years and handed over to Democratic elected Government. Now let us see the political circumstances that triggered both Military Coups whether they were justified. As I have said above the overthrow of SCM1 and SCM2 was out of self-interest group adventurous junior soldiers who planned to stage a coup for their own personal ambition. Otherwise, Rawlings would not be where he is today as per his merits. Now, Kotoka's Coup of which Katakyie was part. I would say the political atmosphere was very tensed and rife for a change. Though, Nkrumah was a good politician far ahead of his time. Pan-Africanist who was too ambitious ahead of the time and neglected Ghana for the Pan-African Course at the expense of Ghana. Ghana was then one Party State and very undemocratic. Indeed, there was at this point in time a typical picturesque political landscape for Military intervention whether it was motivated by Nkrumah's political opponents or not.
Hei Mr. Cool Down! I think your analogy with the roasting of yaw is too trivial and childisshh. It bothers on the life of a patriotic Ghanaian soldier who offered his life for Ghana, and if you like, just like Rawlings for which reasons he, Rawlings, and his cohorts organized their so-called Revolution. Yet the Rawlings and his cohorts are still alive. The point I’m making here is that Gen. A.A. Afrifah was not part, as per Rawlings's narrative, the circumstance which triggered his coup. Thus, the brave Katakyie of good memory was then a civilian and neither was he part of SCM1 nor SCM2. Why then, should he grievously be executed by the military fire squad. That is what beats my mind and I wish somebody with an informed explanation could educate me here about what I believe is illegal. Furthermore, I just can't understand why Gen. A.A. Afrifah was executed for the same course of which Gen. Kotoka to date is honored by naming the Ghana International Airport after him, thus KIA Ghana.
Can you roast yam without burning some of it? Can you cook yam without peeling some of it off? As we sympathize with those who lost friends and loved ones, we should look at similar revolutions in Liberia, Sierra Leon, Rwanda and Somalia and rather thank God that our losses are nothing to compare, learn lessons and work towards not having a return.
Please, Please, would somebody come out here to explain to me why Gen. A.A. Afrifah was executed by Rawlings. It seems least is said about hos execution, why? Then, he was not part of SMC1 and SCM2.
WHAT STORY TO BE TOLD? THE ONLY STORY TO BE TOLD IS IF RAWLINGS WOULD BE BOLD ENOUGH IS TO FACE THE FIRING SQUAD JUST AS ADOLF HITTLER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE TO AVOID THE HUMILIATION OF HIS DECEIT IN MURDERING 6 MILLION JEWS. RAWLINGS DECEIVED THE MASSES ABOUT CORRUPTION IN THE SMC1 AND SMC2 REGIMES. YEAH! LET THE RIGHT THINKING MINDS EVALUATE THE SO CALLED CORRUPTION OF THE SMC ERA WITH THE 19 YEARS OF RAWLINGS RULE AND 8 YEARS OF NDC RULE.THE SMC LEADERS NEVER ACQUIRED ANY STATE PROPERTIES FOR THEMSELVES AS RAWLINGS HAS DONE.THEY NEVER HAD HOUSES LIKE RAWLINGS HAS IN EAST LEGON,RIDGE,AND IN HIS HOME TOWN IN THE VOLTA REGION. IT'S SO SAD THAT CERTAIN SECTIONS OF SOCIETY ARE STILL BEING MANIPULATED AND DECEIVED BY THIS ROGUE OF A THIEFFF AND A MURDERER.THE REVOLUTION OF RAWLINGS ONLY BENEFITED RAWLINGS,HIS FAMILY,THE TSIKATA'S ,KWESI BOATCHWEY,THE AHOI'S AND A FEW INNER MAFIA CIRCLES OF THE RAWLINGS GANG.WHAT HAPPENED TO KOJO LEE? COLONEL ENENFUL AND HIS WIFE? THE JUDGES, AND MANY MANY WHO SUFFERED AND DIED OUT OF YOUR ENVY AND JEALOUSY TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL SECTIONS OF MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.ONLY THE BLIND WILL FOLLOW RAWLINGS AND HIS ASSOCIATES.BUT REST ASSURED I SOLEMNLY BELIEVE THAT THE DAY OF RECKONING IS FAST APPROACHING AND RAWLINGS AND HIS WIFE AND THE TSIKATA'S,AHOI'S AND ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR REVOLUTION WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE DAY IS NEAR. ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Is very sad always listening to this man Rawlings. He only came to deceived Ghanaians for his personal gains. The man was desperate and at edge of being sacked from the military for not able to pass his exams for promotion. This was quoted by Rt. Major Rida. Almost all his coup plotters colleagues have disowned him saying he lied to them, yet he sees himself as a hero. Really if this man had good intensions about Ghana, he would taken the country to the right direction. I always salute Paul Kigame of Rwanda for making Rwanda one of the best countries in Africa within 12years of his ruling. Can Rawlings boost of any achievement for his 19years as head of state?
You can't tell the story the way you want the people to believe it. There are still good people in Ghana who lived and suffered the associated predicament of the Coup. The more you tell the story the more I become convinced that you are a walking illegality. If I were you and smart, I would rather choose to shut my mouth. Then, you are no better than those you executed. Your Administration was more corrupt than theirs and more so if you consider the shortfall of the commitment to justify their killing. The worst thing is that they had been killed by you and you are alive preaching falsehood about them. I just can't understand why Gen. A.A. Afrifah was executed for the same course of which Gen. Kotoka to date is honored by naming Ghana International Airport after him, thus KIA Ghana.
Many of the political amd Military Revolution that took place in many parts of the golbal world has both positive and negative effects. Talk of the Cuban Revolution, the Libyan Revolution, the Spanish and the French Revolutions. All of this revolutions had two faces, those who fufill the good intentions of the Revolution and the culprits who suffered from the attrocities of the revolutions. The French and the Spanish revolutions led to the economic developemnt and industralisation of Europe. The 1979 Revolution was targeted on the political corruptions of the SMC 1 and SMC2 Leadership and the economic corruption of the Kalabule Canker which affected the economy of Ghana. The 31 December Revolution was to eradicate the bad elemenst of the constituional Government of Dr. Hilla Liamann as well as the eradication of the coruppt Kalabule movement in Ghana. Unfortuanately the 1979 Revolution and the 31 December Revolution let to brutalities and attrocities of some inocent ghanaians. Many who suffered and were killed by the agents of the revolutions, or those who lost their relatives during the heat period of the Revolutions are today raising Questions About the authenticity and the credibility of the 1979 and 31 december Revolution.The PNDC and the NDC Regimes contradicted the very principles of the 1979 and 31 December Revolution."The Principles of accountability and probity" Many were chased out of the Country and many ran out of the Country to save their lifes. The very corruption and Kalabule that the Revolution fought and replacing with accountability and probity was contradicted by the two Regimes of the P. N. D. C. and later the political Party N.D.C. Corruption resurfaced very high during the PNDC and NDC Regimes. The 1979 and the 31 December revolutions is now part and parcel of Ghanas political histroy. Those who died, those who were persecuted and suffered attrocities. Their relatives and their children are today raising much Questions About the credibility of both revolutions in Ghana. They are asking and Looking for justice! Those who were Born after the two revolutions in Ghana have read much About Ghanas two revolutions and today are asking many Questions? They never experinced the two revolutions but either they have read the stories About the two revolutions or they have beed told. In conclusion: The Leadership of the two revolutions was Mr. Rawlings, today retired from active politics in Ghana. I presume many of the negative brutalitie, killings and attrocities of the two revolutions was not caused by the Person of Mr. Rawlings but he was the leader in context and time. So who is Ready to say, " I take up the responsibilty of the two revolutions"?
King size, Nana Addo is more sensible than ya illiterateee fatthherr. Do u know Thom a monster is. Kwaasssiiaa like that