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NPP
Press Release
January 10, 2014
FMR. PRESIDENT RAWLINGS MUST THREAD THE PATH OF STATESMEN
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is disgusted at the constant
insults and attacks from Former President Rawlings on the person
of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
The New Patriotic Party agrees that former president Kufuor is
not immune to criticisms.
We however find it highly unbecoming, mischievous and
provocative that Mr. Rawlings, a former military leader, later
head of state, who should naturally be wearing the shoes of
statesmanship, is deliberately and unruly casting unjustified
insinuations and insults on his colleague.
Mr Rawlings behaves and talks like an angel and a judge of
humanity when his 19year rule was inundated with atrocities and
unbeatably dark days in the history of our country.
During the rule of former president Rawlings, so many lives were
lost and up till now lives that were lost have not been
accounted for. The murdered judges, ordinary citizens,
businessmen, market women under his regime were murdered,
tortured and humiliated. Whilst some fled to far and near lands
he and his cronies autocratically held this nation ransom and
dissipated our resources. The culture of silence, curtailed
freedoms and lack of dignity were the hallmark of his years in
power.
Even under what he describes as worst government, Ghanaians were
free to express themselves on how the government should manage
the state purse and the criminal libel law was repealed. One is
baffled at times as to what the real issues are when Mr.
Rawlings speaks.
It is a pity that Mr Rawlings who Ghanaians have forgiven
despite years of loss of lives and property, and for the
incarcerations inflicted on friends and relatives by his regime,
is now calling someone who brought HOPE to Ghanaian all kinds of
names.
It must be noted that the era of Mr Rawlings presidency saw a
leap in the fortunes of countries around the world such as
China, Singapore, Malaysia and Brazil some of whom sent experts
to Ghana to learn from us. Ghana lost out on the opportunity in
those 19 years of achieving middle income and building a
foundation for a kind of take off that would have put the
fortunes of this country when Mr Kufour and the NPP took over
from Mr Rawlings in 2001 at unprecedented levels.
Former Pesident Kufour’s track record in the 8 years of his
presidency saw steady growth and a systematic change in our
fortunes and achieving middle income status as a nation.
We are calling on Former President Rawlings to allow Ghanaians
to be judges of the various regimes that have had the
opportunity to run this country and stop acting pious and being
the judge whilst calling others unpalatable names.
Ghanaians are witnesses to the conduct of Mr Kufour since
leaving office in 2009, the statesmanship, initiative, the
international recognition, level headedness and the finesse with
which he has handled life after the presidency. We urge Mr
Rawlings to also show some statesmanship and exercise restraint
in his public outburst, not only against Mr Kufour but all
leaders of our country.
Signed
Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey
National Chairman
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