The much-awaited subpoena from the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, Illinois, has finally been delivered at the Ridge residence and office of former President Jerry John Rawlings. The subpoena was dispatched from the Ghana Embassy, Washington, last week and delivered in a sealed brown envelope to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry then forwarded the “explosive cargo” to the office of the former president after going through all the bureaucratic processes of delivering such parcels, Daily Guide has learnt. The former president, who traveled with his wife, Nana Konadu, to Bermuda in the Caribbean for a conference, is expected to visit Cuba before returning to Ghana.

Mr. Rawlings has been ordered to appear and testify at the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, before Judge William O’Malley on October 16, 2006 at 9am.

However it is not clear if he will land in Chicago before October 16 when the court has scheduled his appearance before it with all documents and materials connected to the execution of former head of state, General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong.

Rawlings has been commanded by the court to bring along all documents, pictures and video tapes regarding the execution of General Acheampong. He risks facing contempt charges if he fails to honour the court order. “Your failure to appear in response to this subpoena will subject you to punishment for contempt of this court,” it warned.

Additional information gathered by Daily Guide indicate that Louis Farrakhan, the very good friend of Jerry Rawlings has been very unwell, suffering from terminal cancer and therefore JJ might take the opportunity to visit him like he did with his friend, Fidel Castro.

It will be recalled that in the middle of this year, Victor Smith, special aide to Rawlings, wrote a letter to the President of the Ghana National Union, an association of Ghanaian communities in Chicago, declining an invitation extended to the former President to participate in the celebration of this year’s Ghanafest events.

Mr. Smith said in the letter: “After briefing His Excellency The Former President about the discussions that you and I had in a conference called on Tuesday, July 11, I regret to inform you that due to certain unforeseen critical developments to do with our Party, coupled with inadequate preparations and delays on your part, His Excellency is unable to undertake the trip to Chicago as has been planned.

President Rawlings has asked me to apologise to you and the Ghana National Council and also through you, extend his apologies to the dignitaries who you may have invited on account of his initial acceptance of your invitation, for any inconvenience that this development may cause you.”

That notwithstanding, Mr. Rawlings arrived in Chicago as a guest speaker, amidst a flurry of activities. It was explained to Daily Guide that apparently, the office of the former president expected President J.A. Kufuor to be in Chicago and attend the event, hence his refusal to honour the invitation.

However when it became clear that the Minister of Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon S.K. Boafo, had been delegated to represent the President at the festival, the former president jumped on the next available plane to Chicago.

However, nature conspired with the organisers, putting Mr. Rawlings into trouble. Vintage Jerry Rawlings went overboard, provoking the daughter of the executed former head of state, Victoria Acheampong, with his utterances about family values. Victoria, unable to stomach the utterances of Jerry, broke loose from the church service at the Christ Oasis Church and jumped on the NDC founder.

However a slap meant for Jerry Rawlings landed on the face of Reuben Hadzide, President of the Ghana Council. Reuben, who could not take the attack inflicted on his mentor lightly, lodged a complaint of assault against Victoria, which had triggered the chain of events, with the court issuing a subpoena for Mr. Rawlings to appear on October 16.

Daily Guide learnt that the NDC founder, before departing for Bermuda last week, dispatched two NDC MPs with close links to Chicago to go, mediate and appeal to Victoria to soften her stance. It is not clear whether the MPs were able to accomplish their mission, as information from Chicago indicates that the case is going ahead unabated.