Namburr Berrick Replies Boakye-Gyan, Says June 4 is NDC

A member of the Planning Committee of the just ended June 4 celebration in Kumasi, Namburr Berrick says there could not have been any better way to celebrate the day. Spokesman for the erstwhile Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, Osahene Boakye-Gyan is calling for a solemn commemoration of the day that junior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces toppled the then Supreme Military Council (SMC II) headed by General Akuffo.

The June 4 uprising culminated in the executing of three former heads of state (General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa and General Akuffo). In an interview on with Xfm 95.1, Major Retired Boakye-Gyan said the day could be remembered with wreath laying ceremonies in memory of ³the great sacrifice that those soldiers and officers made so that we can be free and enjoy the comfort in democracy that we enjoy today², adding that the political twist associated with the day should be scraped.

However, Namburr Berrick disagrees. Speaking on the Big Bite on Xfm 95.1, Mr Berrick opined that since the NDC was borne out of the principles of June 4, the two are inseparable. He said Osahene Boakye-Gyan who is not a member of the party, cannot dictate the way and manner the day should be remembered. Justifying the need for the day, Mr Berrick said the day is marked to ³always remind ourselves and try to be fair that we should not forget about the things that brought about June 4². He said, ³June 4 has its tenets; the basic was the probity, accountability an d social justice. The NDC was built on that of June 4. Boakye-Gyan is not an NDC member so he cannot tell us he does not share that view, even though he played an active role in the June 4. If he doesn¹t share that view now, it is him who has to answer on why he no more shares that view. But we still believe it¹s valid, that the issue of probity, social justice and accountability has not given way; it will always have to be valid through out, and that is the basic principles on which any nation can thrive². So if he has a problem with the mode of celebration, it is because he thinks he cannot fit in because it is an NDC celebration and he is not an NDC, but we are inviting people who share the views of June 4, we did not exclude him, if he feels the celebration is made up of NDC people, well, we build NDC on the ideals of June 4. Boakye-Gyan can decide that he can come, but he is not an NDC person, I don¹t blame him for not coming².

Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana