IF YOU TREAT PEOPLE LIKE DOGS; BE SURPRISED IF THEY ARE NOT BARKING - RAWLINGS

Former president of Ghana and NDC founder Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings said if a government or leadership treats people like dogs, such leaders should not be surprised if the people start barking.

He was speaking at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon to climax the annual SRC week celebrations on Friday.

In what appears to be a reaction to the recent Œbarking dogs¹ comments made by the NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the former President philosophically said, ?if you treat people like dogs, be surprised if they¹re not barking.

In welcoming back Dr. Obed Asamoah and the defunct DFP back into the NDC fold, the General Secretary of the NDC remarked that ŒI would¹ve been surprised if you didn¹t return to the NDC because the barking dogs that chased you out of the NDC have themselves been eliminated¹.

Many political observers have attributed his comments to the NDC founder who has maintained his criticism of the Mills government for what he considers their refusal to pursue the Œmoral mandate¹ of the people of Ghana.

At the student forum also attended by former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, President Rawlings lamented the refusal of the Mills administration to investigate and correct crimes under the previous regime. He wondered why the leadership of the party he founded based on timeless values and principles will deliberately try to denigrate him to the extent that the opposition NPP has had to come to his defence.

Former President Rawlings said he is not surprised at the Mills government¹s bad treatment of him and his family because from day one President Mills announced to him that ŒI have been advised to let things be¹, a position he (J.J) has disagreed with.

?I regret that our true democracy which started in 1981 (not 1992 which only brought about constitutional rule) is rolling backwards¹ the former President concluded.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings also advised the students to be bold to dream big if they want to make a difference in the society.

Story by A.S Denis/xfm95.1/Accra-Ghana