Henry Lartey Wants Rawlings Probed Over Abacha�s Gift

Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Dr Henry Herbert Lartey says former President Jerry John Rawlings must be probed for his alleged “$2 million” gift from late Nigeria leader Sanni Abacha.

He explained that, the former President flouts the law by receiving the said amount “We had believed Jerry [John] Rawlings that he was doing the right thing but we’ve realised that he has failed us."

Former President Rawlings has been accused of receiving $5 million from the late Nigerian leader - but he had acknowledged receiving $2 million instead of the claimed $5 million which was not for his personal use.

However, Dr Lartey in an interview with UTV’s Augustina Authur noted that Mr Rawlings' action was a marked departure from the probity and accountability principle espoused.

He also condemned the action “I want our former president to come clean because we want to come to power and want to start the crusade against corruption now."

Dr Lartey said the action by the former head of state has dented the image of Ghana.

"He has failed himself, he has failed Nigeria and he has failed the whole of Africa including his children.”

Dr Lartey was worried how Mr Rawlings has been left to walk free when he had perpetrated such act.

He recounted how the first president of the Fourth Republic ended the reign of Dr Hilla Limann, leaving the leader of the People’s National Party (PNP) in abject poverty before he retired.

“He never gave him an ex-gratia,” he complained, alleging that Mr Rawlings rather amassed wealth onto himself - “On top of that he wants his wife to be president, his daughter to go to parliament.”

Dr Lartey lamented how most of the state companies set up by Dr Kwame Nkrumah were sold by Ex-President Rawlings - he also vowed to lead a campaign to force Mr Rawlings to spell the truth of the issue - “We will fight them and fight until they come out with the truth and the truth will be judged by the courts.”