. Is Jerry Rawlings Right Or Wrong?

There is a strong perception out there that the two dominant political parties in Ghana today seem to have entered into a tacit, unwritten agreement to “chop and let me chop Ghana small” whenever in power. This is setting a dangerous precedent for the country and it threatens the very foundations of our democracy.
This tacit and unwritten agreement enjoins the party in power to disregard evidence of corruption of its predecessor and embark upon its own corruption. They play “watch my back and I will watch yours” while the economy is pillaged and allowed to bleed to death like a war casualty. Any call for action to ensure probity and accountability is ignored with contempt while the rot and stealing go on.
The defenders of the status quo think it is vindictive to seek justice. Under NPP’s eight years of rule there was massive corruption everywhere. Everybody knew that, from castle kickbacks to Ghana@50. Anytime allegations of corruption were made, the usual response was “show me the evidence”, “it is only a perception”. Now are you surprised that the NDC government under Mills has adopted the same response? Elsewhere in the press, Woyomi and Twum Boafo both leading members of NDC are calling on Rawlings to provide evidence of corruption in the current government that he’s been talking about. Under Kuffour, nobody in NPP was able to speak out against corruption in their own government. Even Haruna Esseku, the former chairman of NPP made half hearted attempts to retract his castle kickback allegations. Nobody in Ghana has the courage to take on his own party’s government the way Rawlings is doing.
Rawlings is right about this "scratch my back and I will scratch yours politics" being perpetrated by Mills and his NDC government. This is the only thing that has prevented Mills from investigating and punishing corruption of the yesteryears in NPP government and also in his own NDC government. There is clear lack of leadership in the current administration. Now, don’t get me wrong. Mills is a good man, he seems honest and has very good intentions but he doesn’t come across as a political leader. He is a weak leader, and his hands off style is creating a power vacuum and leadership paralysis for the country. Everybody around him is playing president.
WE NEED A STRONG LEADER, LEADERSHIP WITH INTEGRITY AND WILLINGNES TO PURSUE PROBITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE LETTER in the current administration and the ones preceding it. Corruption needs to be punished and shamed not glorified.

What is happening in North Africa and the Middle East should send a warning signal to all politicians who engage in corruption and nation wrecking activities. When the people rise up, their anger cannot be contained.
The real revolution is on the way....it is coming.......it will sweep all of the so called political elites. It will make JUNE 4th seems like a child's play.
A few political idiots cannot continue to steal from the state and play "watch my back and I watch your back" while they use the court system they have corrupted and the lodges to protect themselves and their ill gotten wealth. When the revolution comes, it won't spare them.
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR IF YOU HAVE NOT RAPED MOTHER GHANA.

The anger of the masses will consume them......it will make the Middle East Spring Revolution and the Orange Revolution of Ukraine, plus the Phillipino Revolutions that toppled Estrada, Aquino etc and the anger of the Thai people that drove Thaksin out of power and constantly check the rot in the Thai political system look small like child's play. The Ghanaian Revolution will be bloody, the echoes of LET THE BLOOD FLOW will be heard again. Those who have constantly fed on the state depriving millions of Ghanaians of their God given right to a better life, the anger of the people will be visited upon them and they will find no refuge anywhere on this earth to run to for help.

THE REAL REVOLUTION IS COMING, THE PEOPLE’S ANGER THAT NOBODY CAN STOP!!!

Democracy may be good but the way it is practised in Africa, without checks and balances, is a fat joke. Just three days ago I was asking myself whether what has happened to John Edwards in the US could happen in Ghana in the way of say a presidential candidate diverting political contributions for his personal use. Remember John Edwards was a vice presidential candidate of the Democratic Party and a one time presidential aspirant. And again remember, there is a Democratic administration in office, the Attorney General is a Democrat appointed by a Democratic President. There were rumours that the political donations or funds for Akuffo-Addo’s failed presidential bid for 2008 couldn’t be accounted for. Within the NPP itself there was finger pointing and accusations and counter accusations. What a wretched country we are, because we have decided to throw probity and accountability out of the window. Don’t you think that as a nation we should cherish this valued tradition more else we can’t make progress?
WHEN SHALL WE LEARN AS A NATION?

Ben Ofosu-Appiah
Tokyo, JAPAN.
The writer is a senior political/social analyst and a policy strategist based in Tokyo. He welcomes your comments: do4luv27@yahoo.com

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