The former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has stated that the nation is back in bondage following the demise of Cardinal Peter Dery. According to him, the late Dery had a passion for the nation and above all had a history of priesthood accompanied by human sacrifice for the spirit of nationhood. “He is a true man of God who has left us to another world. With the demise of this great man of God, the nation is back in bondage,” he said.

The former President, who doubles as the founder of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress(NDC), made this disclosure yesterday when a delegation from the late Dery’s family paid a visit to him, to officially inform him about the burial arrangements. Mr. Rawlings admonished the government not to use the state burial announced by it to whitewash its image after the unfortunate murder of the King of Dagbon, Ya-Na and forty others. According to him it was unbelievable to hear that a party that supervises the murder of Ya-Na without bringing the perpetrators to book till date would still seek the mandate of the victims to rule the nation.

Mr. Rawlings, who was given moral support by Mr. James Victor Gbeho, former ambassador, Hon. Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Minority spokesperson on Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. S.K Alban Bagbin, the minority leader and Mr. Kofi Adams, the deputy national youth organizer of the NDC, said the restoration or the discovery of destiny to hold the members of this country together through the late Cardinal Dery, has now been thrown into the dustbin, warranting divide and rule tactics. “It is on record that some people cannot stand the posture of a united nation and that is why they need to sow seeds of discord among Ghanaians and embark upon divide and rule tactics. This must stop,” he said. Commending the late archbishop for his roles as a member of the Council of State under Hilla Limman regime, he said he has demonstrated the true values of a preacher as against others today.

‘I commend him for distancing himself from the National Reconciliation Committee (NRC) while some prominent persons like Bishop Palmer Buckle would sit there and behave as if they don’t know what is happening.’ In his tribute, the ex-President described the late Dery as brave, pacesetter in priesthood and a man of passion, of humanity and a man who is against injustice. He also recounted how the late Bishop gained his respect, and how June 4, that he underscored as cleansing process came up. According to him, the nation today is still looking for leaders but not rulers as it happened in the last days. He pledged to be at the funeral of Cardinal Dery to pay his last respect provided no assignment takes him outside the country. He also called for unity among the family members to make sure that a befitting burial was given to a true priest.

Mr. Rawlings also took the opportunity to call on the clergy to emulate the brave and bold nature of the Arch-bishop, to help disseminate the gospel accordingly. The NDC founder was equally not enthused with the way and manner some pastors have turned the church into money making ventures. Dr. Ben Kumbour, the NDC MP for Lawra Nabdam, Hon. S.K Bagbin, all MPs from the Upper East region, eulogized the late Dery and recounted their encounters with him.

To them, the late Dery was a source of inspiration to them and that his homecall was a big blow to both the nation and christiandom. James Victor Gbeho, who indicated that he had not met with the man one on one, recounted accounts he heard from some people to prove that indeed the man was a man of peace, pious and an inspirer.

The delegation included, Dr. Edmund N. Delle, the immediate past national chairman and leader of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr. Mathias Ainbeng, head of family, Mr. John Vianney, an official from CEPS, Ernestina Porekuu, Daniel Pimi, Ms Sidonia Ainbeng and Ben Assorow. The delegation was introduced to the former President and his team by Mr. Ben Assorow, whilst Dr. Delle gave an overview of the funeral arrangements and a brief account of the deceased.