Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jerry John Rawlings has jabbed critics of his comments intended to shape the party, describing them as “political novices, eager to please their paymasters”.

Mr. Rawlings has on a number of occasions rebuked the NDC, tagging the Mahama-led government as the most corrupt in the history of the country. He has been of the greatest conviction that Ghanaians booted the NDC out of office because of sickening greed, selfishness and corruption.

His comments appear not to be the best for some officials of the party, including a former Deputy Chief of Staff under the Mahama administration, Valerie Sawyer and Mutala Mohammed who have taken him on for constantly highlighting the flaws of a party he founded and neglecting the wrongs of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Delivering a speech at this year’s 31st December Revolution Anniversary, Rawlings noted that he has every right to raise legitimize concerns while indicating that persons who have issues with his decision to expose flaws of his party have no idea how the NDC paid no heed to his suggestions.

“Some latter-day party officials have now made it their chore to denigrate me for speaking loudly and forcefully about the wrongs in the NDC when the party was in power. Many of these political novices, eager to please their paymasters may be oblivious to the countless times my counsel was treated with contempt. I cannot lay claim to the position of party founder and spend time criticizing another party or institution when my house is burning. Removing the log in my eye is the only way to legitimize any right to expose the speck in another’s,” he said.

Rawlings further stated that his party must redeem its image in the eyes of Ghanaians if it is to stand a chance in 2020 elections.

“The NDC needs men and women at its various Executive positions who have the strength of character to boldly lead the party and ensure that they have the ability to rein in members of their own government when in power. Our party structure was weak, abused and ignored in the immediate past and when change comes that change must be one that carries with it the power and will of the people. If we do not allow that revolutionary change but allow materialism and money politics to dictate our choices, then we will stay in the political abyss for a considerable period,” he noted.