NDC-VIRGINIA BRANCH SALUTES PRESIDENT J.J.RAWLINGS, THE CADRES AND GHANAIANS

“ The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone of the building”

The Executives and Members of the Virginia Chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) deems it appropriate to congratulate the founder of our Great NDC Party, President Jerry John Rawlings, his dear wife Dr. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, and all cadres on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution.

Thirty years ago, the then Flt.Lt. Jerry John Rawlings led junior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces to launch a revolution by responding to a national outcry by the populace to rescue the general decline in the economic, social, political and, most importantly, moral fabrics of the Ghanaian society. Corruption, avarice, plunder of state resources, and personal aggrandizement using political offices and state institutions were the order of the day, and the 31st December Revolution was only a timely intervention in preventing a general political and economic collapse.

The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), borne by the revolution and led by the then Chairman Jerry John Rawlings, had a herculean task in reversing the economic and political doom that awaited the country. But through tenacity of purpose and courage, the situation was reversed. Through the regional and the local tribunals, individuals involved in corruption and the pilfering of the state were made to face justice and law and order restored. Ghana was, therefore, placed back on the trajectory to prosperity and peace. Ghana became a bastion of stability and a beacon of hope for the people of the West Africa Sub-Region in spite of the general political instability that prevailed across the sub-region.

With your hands-on leadership style, you led Ghanaians into the hinterlands to haul Ghana's precious cash crops by foot to the ports, and actively participated in the rehabilitation of road and rail networks across the country. This led to the transformation of Ghana's economy.

By your leadership style, you encouraged the cadres and all Ghanaians indeed to sacrifice a little more for their Country. No doubt University Students had to leave their lectures in order to be the vanguards of these exercises. You instilled the spirit of patriotism, nationalism, self-help, and grassroots participation in the Ghanaian populace. With your visionary leadership, you led the Country into the Fourth Republican Constitutional rule, drawn by the ordinary people of Ghana.

We cannot, however, forget the shattered economy, the deteriorated railway system, inaccessible road networks, collapsed factories, and so on. We can also not forget hoarding and profiteering, the kalabule and the zinabu, and the long queues just to buy basic necessities. We can also not forget how cocoa beans were left on farms to rot due to the very bad nature of the railway system and the inaccessible nature of the road networks before the 31st December Revolution.

As African countries go through some of the serious political crisis in their attempt to change leadership, we have seen hundreds of thousands killed and maimed across the continent. From Tunisia to Egypt to Libya, we are all witnesses to the killing of many thousands just to replace notorious dictators. These events remind us of your selfless dedication to the people of Ghana. You have shown in many ways that power is not about Jerry Rawlings and his family, it is by the people and for the people.

On this occasion, all Ghanaians must be reminded of the cornerstone of the Revolution: Probity, Integrity, Accountability, Transparency, Social Justice, Development of Country and Individual as well as Positive Defiance and Elimination of Pervasive Culture of Discrimination.

These principles remain the very foundation of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). We must also be reminded again and again that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is the offspring of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). This reminder, we hope must guide the behaviour of every Member of the party, be it a state official or rank and file including this writer. We must be aware that the NDC is a Party of the grassroots and the veranda boys! We must all know that President Jerry John Rawlings is a TOWER OF STRENGTH and the Cornerstone of the Great Akatamanso family.

We would like to use this opportunity to remind all our members – those in government, the grassroots, and party executives – that the values that defined the NDC yesterday are still the values we still hold onto. If our actions, as a party in government, are beginning to bear semblance with the actions of those we came to remove, the good people of Ghana will not forgive us for repeating the evils that led to the uprising in the first place.

We the Virginia branch of the NDC once again salute our party's founder President Jerry John Rawlings and wife Nana KonaduAgyemang Rawlings, the cadres, the fallen HEROES of the revolution, and indeed Ghanaians from all walks of life for the sacrifices they have made through the years and continue to make for the good of country and fellowmen and women. We wish you all good health and happy anniversary celebration.

LONG LIVE 31ST DECEMBER REVOLUTION!!!
LONG LIVE NDC!!!
LONG LIVE GHANA!!!
Daniel Dotse
Chairman
NDC-Virginia
USA.