ADDRESS BY FORMER PRESIDENT JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS AT THE NDC NATIONAL RALLY, TEMA – 05 NOVEMBER 2008

My countrymen and women,

thank you for such a wonderful presence here today. Nyame Nhyira mo!

Ghana has reached the crossroads where we have to decide whether this country belongs to us or rather belongs to a select few who have been lording it over us for the past eight years.

This Sunday’s election is not about Jerry John Rawlings or about Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

It is about the current state of the Ghanaian economy where only a select people from a particular political party enjoy the national cake while we suffer in silence.

How many times have you not noticed Ministers and other government appointees who did not own a bicycle now driving around town in state-of-the-art sports utility vehicles, popularly known as SUVs? Not forgetting the fanciful mansions they live in coupled with an insulting expensive lifestyle.

These lifestyles are the direct result of your sweat and not the hard-earned resources of these selfish politicians.

Because Ghanaians have become aware of their expensive culture and are showing their disapproval in so many ways such as attending our rallies in large numbers they have resorted to lies, using the National Health Insurance in particular and telling everyone you do not need to pay for operations etc when you go to the hospital. My friends, is that true?

Are our brothers and sisters still not dying in our hospitals? Are people still not making newspaper appeals for financial assistance for medical operations? These people are so desperate to win the elections they cannot help but feed you with lies. Don’t allow these desperate last minute adverts with their ill-gotten wealth sway you. You need to remain steadfast and do the right thing on Sunday. Ghana’s destiny is in your thumbprint.

Professor John Evans Atta Mills has chosen to dedicate his life to Ghana by becoming President and some very unintelligent people have been making ugly noises that when he becomes President I will take over control of the country. How very foolish of them.

I am not as power drunk as they are. They know they cannot leave power because of the evidence of fraud that will be exposed.

If Jerry John Rawlings was so desperate to stay in power why did he not just stay put in 2000? Why are they thinking that such foolish talk makes sense to the ordinary folk who are suffering after eight years of the National Poverty Party?

When Professor Mills was senior lecturer at the University was Jerry John Rawlings controlling him, when he was the Head of the Internal Revenue Service was Jerry John Rawlings even on the IRS Board?

My brothers and sisters, I am a humble citizen of Ghana like all of you. I owe it a responsibility like every single one of you to call for change because of the rot we find ourselves in. I have been travelling across the country campaigning simply because I believe the NDC has what it takes to change this country.

You are here because you have the same belief that Ghana deserves change and in the next 48 hours let us all play our part to effect this change.

As you go and cast your vote please be vigilant and never assume that all is as it seems. The desperate ones have all sorts of plans including inciting people into violence through artificial logistical problems like delays in submitting election material etc. Please remain calm and refuse to be drawn into unnecessary arguments. Just make sure that nothing will dissuade you from casting that important vote.

Make sure you inspect the ballot paper to be sure the electoral commission has properly stamped it. Do not be afraid to ask the electoral officer if you suspect something is not right.

After you vote move away from polling booths but nothing stops you from observing matters from a safe distance and be around when counting is being done. Nothing in the law stops you from observing the counting process. Today’s technology means our mobile phones can capture any wrong acts we see at polling stations. Let us not hesitate to record anything we see that is wrong. These can be sent to media houses we know are impartial so the whole world can see what went wrong.

Security, media and all

To the security agencies we appeal to them to remain impartial and remember their role is to protect the public not to intimidate them. They should exhibit a high sense of impartiality and professionalism on Election Day and beyond because Ghana needs it.

We are calling on the media in particular to act responsibly and not start calling results indiscriminately when the electoral commission has not endorsed such results. We are aware the NPP has spoken to various media people across the country to send out misinformation about the trend of voting and make comments alluding to the fact that the NPP is doing well. The media owe Ghanaians a responsibility to be impartial during this process.

Every Ghanaian has a role to play in the call for change and on Sunday let us pool our resources together and vote for the symbol of change – the Akatamanso and vote for the man who will bring change to Ghana, John Atta Mills.

Thank you.

Signed: Kofi Adams, Special Assistant