...For Ghana?s Chequered History

Leading members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who converged last Sunday at the Bantama park in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, condemned scenes and incidents of atrocities and brutalities that characterized the over twenty years? rule of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings.

Almost all the speakers at the women and youth rally organized by the party took swipes at the ex-President while informing the youth who perhaps were little informed about the ?revolutionary? days and the fact that Rawlings' 'Revolution' was not the best of experience for the country.

The National Women Organizer of the party, Madam Rose Asobayire, told the hundreds of women and youth at the rally that the country had traveled very far under the administration of the NPP, adding that ?there were times when women were brutalized by Rawlings? revolutionary group for frivolous reasons.

?Women were stripped naked, dehumanized and lashed simply because of something they called Kalabule?, she said.

According to her, Mr. Rawlings and his P/NDC group did not do the country any good but they rather took the country back.

She advised the youth not to relinquish their support for the NPP since it was the party of Ghana?s destiny. When the Minister for Tourism and Diasporian Relations, Mr. Asamoah Boateng took his turn on the platform, he did not spare the National Democratic Congress? (NDC?s) Candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. ?Mill?s days are over he looks like one who is being forced?.

According to him, the NDC?s twice defeated flagbearer has nothing new to offer the nation, adding that ?this is not the case in our party. All our aspirants know what they are about?.

He further reminded the youth that the NPP is the only party they should belong to and as such, they need not engage themselves in any activity that would bring the name of the party into disrepute.

Although it was an event for the women and youth of the party, some flagbearer aspirants seized the opportunity to sum up their campaign messages in the round-up to the party?s congress, which is about four weeks away.

The former Deputy Minister for the Interior and a flagbearer aspirant, Capt (rtd.) Nkrabeah Effah Darteh as usual, charged the atmosphere with his favourite gospel tune ?Matwen Awurade na nim?, before delivering his speech.

In a short address, the flagbearer hopeful and Member of Parliament for Brekum, said the number of members seeking to lead the party was an indication that the NPP has the men to do the job.

?There was a time in the country when they thought there were no men in Ghana, but this is simply the proof?, he said.

The presidential hopeful, who recently filed his nominations to put to rest media speculations about his unseriousness to contest the slot, said ?Ghana is far better under the NPP than any other party in the country?.

Professor Mike Oquaye, the former Communications Minister and a flagbearer aspirant, said the NDC kicked against all the policies of the NPP but were the same people who were benefiting from them, explaining that ?they spoke against NHIS and we have covered 60 per cent of the country, cocoa spraying the same and now 780 thousand tonnes a year, Bui Dam, from Gugisberg to Rawlings but it is our time?.

Talking about the huge number of aspirants, Professor Oquaye challenged claims that the number had the propensity to divide the party, explaining that ?even if you have two and they are not disciplined there will be chaos, but if you have over twenty and there is discipline you have no problems?.

Other flagbear aspirants present at the rally included Mr. Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Dr. Frimpong Boateng and Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyemang.