.... Chastises NDC
... Accuses Govt Of Killing Ya-Na & Mobillah

Accra, July 1, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings says contrary to public opinion that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) hierarchy submits to his counsel, it has not learnt a single lesson from him since he left office as President.

He told journalists: "I would have wished that the Party hierarchy has learnt some lessons from me but not a single one piece of my advice has been taken by the Party since I left office as President."

Former President Rawlings said the Party often took his counsel only when it had lost its relevance, saying that, that behaviour had cost the Party dearly over the years.

"I have the experience enough and see things you don't see."

He noted, for instance, if his advice had been taken persons like Daniel Abodakpi, Sepa Yankey and Victor Serlomey would not have gone to jail, saying that Ya-Na Yakubu Andani and Alhaji Issah Molbila would also have been alive if the NDC had heeded his advice on what to do.

Former President Rawlings said with the forthcoming elections, it was obvious that the people of Ghana were tired of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), but the NDC had waited too long before taking the NPP on.

"When we were in government the NPP's criticisms against us were consistent and destructive."

He said there was no gain in the NDC waiting for four long years before flexing its muscles about the misdeeds of the NPP.

"When the NPP was in opposition they were on our necks everyday but we have waited for four years before making the necessary noise," he said.

"There is too much injustice in the system and the NPP is testing the ability of the nation to resist their corrupt government." He noted that some of the parliamentary candidates of the NDC for the December elections won their slot under very unpleasant circumstances, which was not good for the reputation of the Party adding, "all the same you must reach out to the people with goodwill".

Former President Rawlings called on the rank and file of the NDC to take party functions and assignments seriously and to attend them in their numbers to demonstrate to the international community that the NDC had the over-riding numbers to kick out the NPP at the December polls.

He noted that the NPP's following was dwindling by the day and the NDC needed to take advantage of that to stamp their presence on the conscience of the citizens and the international community.

"It is time for the NPP to go and they must go in this election.

"In spite of the existence of ethnic differences like the Ashantis, Fantes, Akyems, Ewes, Gas and what-have-you, the people are one in their call for the NPP to go," he said.

He accused the NPP of masterminding the murder of the Ya-Na Andani to prevent public resistance over the NPP's fraudulent victory in the 2000 elections and also engineered the murder of Molbila in 2004 again to prevent public resistance against their fraudulent victory in 2004 and thus cowed the populace to submission.

"The incarceration of Tsatsu Tsikata has nothing to do with whether he is guilty or innocent - it has everything to do with the NPP's tactics of creating fear in the citizens to prevent the public from resisting their intended fraud in the forthcoming elections," he said.

Former President Rawlings expressed worry over why the West and their media kept lambasting President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and yet showered praises on President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana.
He said the only difference between Ghana and Zimbabwe was that in Zimbabwe people are fleeing, whiles in Ghana people were under coercive silence with nowhere to go, but both Mugabe and Kufuor were using similar tactics on their peoples.
Former President Rawlings questioned why Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had proposed to increase in the number of Police officers in the country, saying that, that proposal was calculated to turn Ghana into a Police State.
He said policing everywhere in the world emanated from the social responsibility of the citizens themselves with the police serving as a supplement.
He said Nana Akufo-Addo wanted to fill the Police Service with people from his area to counter President Kufuor's men in the Service so that they would not work against his interests.
He accused the NPP of using class war, divide and rule, fraud, violence and intimidation to keep themselves in office.
"They have demonstrated grave hatred for Dr Kwame Nkrumah and frown upon his fight for our independence and yet they claim they stand for freedom and justice," he said.
He described the National Reconciliation exercise as a shameless job for which the supposed honourable persons who sat on the Commission were awarded.
Before he read his press statement he apologised for coming late and said his lateness was due to water shortage in his house.
"I had soap all over me when the water just run out - I want you to know that even in this house we have water shortage," he said.