Ex-president
Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday, fired another salvo at the Mills-led
NDC administration accusing the government of losing its sense of
political morality and moral high-ground.
An incensed Rawlings
accused the government of having monetized everything and wondered how
the party intends winning power having departed from the values that
sustained its political success
Addressing hundreds of
sympathizers of the 31st December revolution during the 30th anniversary
celebration of the formation of the 31st December Women’s Movement
which was named after the May 15 uprising where Mr Rawlings led a group
of soldiers in an abortive attempt to overthrow the Supreme Military
Council on May 15, 1979, the former president in characteristic fashion,
said the NDC is at war with two opponents.
He indirectly
described the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as "perceived
enemies" whiles labeling the ruling government as a "traitor".
"How
can the government in its desire to hold onto political power demean
itself in such a crass manner? Can we sustain hope and strength in this
depraved political atmosphere?...We have always had to fight against one
‘enemy’ or opposition. If they can behave in a civil way it will be
fair to call them opposition but seeing how they rounded up and jailed
innocent people and killed others can we be wrong to sometimes describe
them as enemies?...This time, however, we are fighting against two
enemies – one the perceived enemy and the other one the traitor. We
cannot fight both at the same time and therefore one has to go," the
former president said.
Read the speech delivered by Jerry John Rawlings' at the event below.
ADDRESS
BY H.E. JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS AT THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CEREMONY OF THE
31ST DECEMBER WOMEN’S MOVEMENT – GOLDEN TULIP HOTEL, ACCRA - MAY 15,
2012
The President of the 31st December Women’s Movement,
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Nananom, Niimei, Naamei, Dr. Mrs. Mary
Grant, Rev. Christie Doe Tetteh, Dr Uma Sen, Madam Selena Taylor,
members of the Diplomatic Corp, members of the 31st December Women’s
Movement, members of the media, distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen:
Thirty years ago, as Ghana pursued the agenda of
stopping the decay that had engulfed the country and brought it on its
knees, we lived in a man’s world and many believed the journey of
transformation was a job too challenging for our women.
However
one young woman with the able support of like-minded friends and
colleagues, decided the time had come for women to take active and
significant part in the socio-economic development of Ghana – especially
in the rural areas where women played an important role in the family
unit but had little rights as far as decision-making was concerned.
The
history of the achievements of the 31st December Women’s Movement, led
by this tireless woman and political soul mate, Nana Konadu
Agyeman-Rawlings has been told a thousand-fold. Today the transformation
of women is felt across the country in so many spheres of endeavour.
Women’s
rights have been boosted through the adoption of several laws
protecting their rights and women have found themselves pursuing various
roles that transcend managing the small family unit, to applying modern
technology in farming, roles in industry and top management as well as
varied positions in national politics. The list is endless.
The
DWM stood up for the disadvantaged women of society and together they
worked hard in creating modest economic opportunities for women, created
awareness of women’s rights and inculcated a sense of self-confidence
and self-worth that has today made the Ghanaian woman strong, assertive
and equal to men in every sector of society.
Ladies and
gentlemen: As we congratulate the DWM we have to appreciate the fact
that without women we could not have achieved as much as we did in our
political and electoral successes, as they served as the backbone of the
campaign structure during the PNDC era, when they were largely
instrumental in giving true meaning to the implementation of the
economic policies that turned Ghana’s economy around.
When the
NDC was established, the huge network created by the Movement served as a
powerful avenue for propagating the government’s philosophy and ideals
and an influential machinery that hoisted the party’s image from 1992
through to 2008.
The current leadership knows it very well but
rather than build on the capacity that the Movement brought to the
party, they have chosen to exclude them and do worse than our so-called
‘enemies’ were doing between 2000 and 2008.
How can the
government in its desire to hold onto political power demean itself in
such a crass manner? Can we sustain hope and strength in this depraved
political atmosphere?
We have always had to fight against one
‘enemy’ or opposition. If they can behave in a civil way it will be fair
to call them opposition but seeing how they rounded up and jailed
innocent people and killed others can we be wrong to sometimes describe
them as enemies?
This time, however, we are fighting against two
enemies – one the perceived enemy and the other one the traitor. We
cannot fight both at the same time and therefore one has to go.
How
could an NDC government lose its enviable sense of political morality
and moral high-ground? This is why some are justified in saying that
those in office are not genuinely minded, NDC spirited, NDC-hearted
people and want to destroy the party in favour of something else. And so
long as they hold onto power and with some of our supporters
persistently refusing to see the truth and what should have been done,
then it becomes difficult to take back our party.
Ladies and
gentlemen: We hear promises of great developmental policies and
achievements that will come our way if we vote in certain directions,
but the question is which party can restore our values?
We have
always won our elections on the power of integrity. Now that they have
chosen to monetize everything, how much of a chance do they have, having
departed from the weapon and values that sustained our political
success?
May 15 is a watershed in more ways than one. 30 years
ago the 31st December Women’s Movement was born to create an avenue for
women’s emancipation.
Three years earlier on the same date, the
pre-cursor to the June 4 took place. My arrest and court martial and the
truthful statements I made at the trial made me the focal point of
conscience and gave me the leverage to contain the rage and violence
that had reached boiling point within the military, the security
services and the public at large.
Ghana has come far since 1979
and 1982 and today as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the hard work
of our women, let us ponder over the direction we are taking our
country. Let us remember the huge sacrifices that many endured for our
country.
The culture of political selfishness, greed, thievery
and ingratitude has to be exorcised. I said before in 2011 that this
year’s elections will create a lot of stress in the country and you are
living witnesses to that reality.
Today men are parading and
strutting the corridors of power, taking credit for your achievements,
including the political and social security of the state when it was
most needed. I hope one day when the truth is told this triumph of evil
will be reversed.
As we ponder over these matters, allow me to
express my heartfelt congratulations to the 31st December Women’s
Movement and Ghanaian women for chalking three decades of development in
Ghana. Ayekoo. |
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