Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings on Wednesday tagged the New Patriotic Party as nation wreckers who almost destroyed the country in their eight-year rule between 2001 and 2009.

She said corruption was not only massive under the John Agyekum Kufuor-led NPP, but the government was also a violent abuser of its powers.

“We find ourselves in a situation today; having survived the massive corruption of Mr. Kufuor and his NPP and their violent abuse of power, and injustice, yet there are so many countries in the world who still pretend and indeed pamper these people who almost destroyed and collapsed our country with corruption, injustice, nepotism and cocaine.”

Nana Konadu Rawlings was speaking at a public lecture to mark the 17th anniversary of the formation of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party at the National Theatre in Accra, attended by party faithful and officials.

She said the NDC has shown it is a strong party, surviving several machinations by the NPP, including, ‘persecution’, ‘prosecution’ and ‘stealing’ all in attempts to obliterate the image of the NDC, “but they did not succeed.” Nana Konadu described the past eight years as a ‘great learning curve for the party’, offering Ghanaians the opportunity to observe what the NDC's opponents could achieve. “And we saw it, didn’t we? Unfortunately, aside from their abysmal mismanagement of every facet of Ghana’s development, they persecuted, and prosecuted, and stole and did all within their power to obliterate the image of the NDC.”

She said the NDC was formed out of a strong conviction by millions of Ghanaians that the ideals of June 4th, 1979 and 31st December 1981 should transform into a political force that would stand the test of time.

“That conviction, which was led by my dear husband (Jerry John Rawlings)…and all the other gallant heroes of those days some of whom are still here and are present today, has actually led this great party of ours through very difficult, long and arduous process putting the party together…”

Nana Konadu found it unbelievable that today some people who profess to be NDC members have problems with June 4th and 31st December and their celebration.

“I say it now and probably will forever say it that if you do not believe in the tenets of June 4 that gave a feeling and air of freedom to the ordinary man and woman and gave them back their dignity through justice, accountability, honesty, integrity and also knowing that justice can be done to wrong does when they have gone wrong, then you cannot, indeed you cannot be an NDC member if you don’t believe in these things. Then you are definitely in the wrong party.