General News of Sunday, 2 November 2003

Source: NANA SIFA TWUM (London)

I can demonstrate motives behind the killings, but .... - JJ

......CANNOT PROVIDE EVIDENCE
The former president of Ghana, Mr. Jerry John Rawlings has said he can demonstrate motives behind the killings of the 34 women killed during his term of office but cannot provide evidence. He has therefore called on Ghanaians living in Europe to use their influences to draw international human right organisations such as the Amnesty International to thoroughly investigate the killings..

He said if that is not done to find lasting solution to the problem, which according to him was politically masterminded by some high ranking members of the ruling government, the problem would immediately resurface when the NDC come to power in 2005.

Mr. Rawlings said he predicted about the sacrifice of some one being used as escape-goat on the matter while in office in a recorded broadcast but was not used. He intimated that there is no wonder that Charles Quansah has been sacrificed for the crimes of people in government.

The former president was speaking at a fund-raising dinner dance to commemorate the 10 anniversary of the UK and Ireland branch of the National Democratic Congress in London.

Showing signs of inspiration, apparently from the fore-speeches by the Member of Parliament for Wenchi West, Mr. Asiedu Nketia and the national organiser of the NDC, Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, J.J. as he is affectionately called, raised a number of issues in his one-hour-15 minute-speech.

Mr Rawlings noted with regretted that it was by divine intervention that the former ministers of state were wrongfully jailed to enable them realise and discover the truth which they did not believe about the planned cruel judgment imposed on Charles Quansah by the government.

According to him, the NPP party while in opposition realising that more women were supporting the NDC government adopted a malicious tactics to create confusing and panic among the women population, hence those brutal killings of innocent Ghanaian women. He admitted that, though he knew what was happening, it was rather difficult to effect arrest due to what he described as ‘the weaknesses of the people’.

He said due to the weaknesses of the people many people could commit very serious crimes and get away with it and that was what exactly happened with the murdering of the women.

He observed that the NPP had lost credibility, by way of how they conducted themselves, adding that since they needed power they adopted cruel means to achieve that. He said after wining the elections the power they won from the people is now rolling on the ground. Mr. Rawlings said the apparent misuse of power against the people and the corrupt practises by members of government are clear indications of power in wrong hands.

The former president re-iterated that he fore-warned Ghanaians not to give power to the NPP because he knew their background but they did.

The Chairman of the UK and Ireland branch of the party, Mr. Alex Siegerfa challenged the NPP to prove the success or other wise of the zero tolerance of corruption campaign by the govern,. He observed that corruption is more prevalent these days in Ghana than ever.