RAWLINGS AND NATIONAL UNITY – WILL THIS MAN EVER GROW?
If there was one event lately that made discerning Ghanaians put away their political cloaks, it was the 6th March aspect of the Ghana @ 50 celebrations. The day brought together people from almost all political parties and organisations in the country. One figure that was conspicuously missing was the ex-President, Flt Lt Rawlings.
As if all the incessant appeals by various sections of society and prominent citizens to all Ghanaians to join in making the celebrations memorable fell on his deaf ears, he chose to distance himself from the celebrations. This was after a high powered delegation of eminent Ghanaians had been sent to him by the sitting President to invite him to partake in the Jubilee activities – a gesture he never extended to Limann!! Prior to that, the President had also, in an interview with the BBC, extended to him the olive branch to let bygones be bygones.
Even more defeatist and unpalatable are the reasons he adduces for his decision to skip the celebrations. What does Rawlings mean by “Ghana is faced with pervasive corruption at all levels, missed opportunities for genuine progress, nepotism, tribalism and known cases of political torture and killings”?
Is he saying that his rule of fear and torture and shavings were better? Slapping of Vice-Presidents, making of Vice-Presidents “kolikos”, shit-bombings, etc.?
How on earth can any serious person who has ruled this country for 20 years out of our fifty years of nationhood question what we are celebrating? An indicatory that he did not leave any noteworthy legacy? When will this man ever stop being bitter and jealous about his successor’s feats. Perhaps the most disillusioned individual that ever lived in this country is JJ.
I have difficulty in reconciling how someone who saw the availability of two toilets in one’s house as a criminal offence, one who said he couldn’t afford a ball of kenkey in 1979, could suddenly be educating all his kids abroad, be driving in jaguars and Mercedes Benz S-class, with his wife boasting of Jacuzzis. Have you forgotten of the extravagant lifestyle of his son, Kimathi, as carried by the Ghanaian Observer newspaper?
It is strange how the proponent of Probity and Accountability would be crying foul because a court of competent jurisdiction has found his cronies guilty of defrauding the State. Is he dreading of his fate and especially that of his wife? Does he think these “booms” will change the course of justice and probity? He must be day-dreaming!!
I thought that for once. J.J. would use the invitation extended to him to have shown that he was weaning himself of vaulting ambition. Instead, look at what he churns out. My fear and worry is “will Jerry Rawlings ever grow and live above pettiness and partisanship?
Anyways, Happy Anniversary to all peace loving Ghanaians.
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