Accra, June 20, GNA - A pro-Rawlings NGO, Youth for Leadership, has hailed former President Jerry John Rawlings, who celebrates his 61st birthday on June 22, as a legend who had been "sent as a leader to rescue the future of our nation from total destruction". In a statement signed by Mr. Abubakar Musah Sidii, National Chairman, the NGO said the former President had a remarkable accomplishment of transforming a collapsed economy into "a growing, cheerful and hopeful (one), with real people participation in governance, without disruptions and destabilization". "The strong convictions and unwavering principles of Mr Rawlings have inspired and will continue to inspire many young people of Ghana despite attempts by latter-day (historians) to twist the history of Ghana and take away his good deeds."

The group said his firm and unwavering conviction for social justice and the truth no matter the cost, was what the youth must absorb and espouse. "His principles of volunteerism, probity and accountability, transparency, positive defiance, which he amply demonstrated in his leadership of Ghana in the past and present, are what we the Youth for Leadership in Ghana would want in the present and future governments in this country."