Anniversary June 4, 1979, Revolution in Ghana - Rawlings Lives on!!

On June 4 1979, Ghana heard of a hitherto unknown man named Jerry John Rawlings. He was a natural phenomenon on the political space of Ghana.

Indeed he was a natural reaction to a decadent society that had lost its moral compass - and badly needed a moral reset.

His emergence was so prophetic that the masses nick-named him Junior Jesus after the Biblically fabulous Christ of Nazareth.

He resonated a righteous indignation of the people so much so that everyone in public office started to clean out their dirty closets.

There were those whose closets were too stinky to be cleaned. And these people were so abhorrent to the masses who called for their blood to flow in pacification. And yes, the blood did flow. Massive corrupted blood!

Did the blood of the corrupted truly cleanse our decadent polity? I double doubt. Perhaps, while Papa J was still in charge of Ghana’s affairs.

His coming was meant to mark the end of corruption, tribalism, nepotism, clientelism, state capture, family and friends governments, create loot and share schemes and all such similar vices within our polity.

What is supposed to be is not always what is. That is why it would seem that the June 4 blood of pacification flowed for nothing as these vices have rather multiplied and amplified today within our polity.

Fourty three years today since Papa J’s phenomena. I loved Papa’s principles and fighting spirit. It so strongly resonated with the masses and led to the formation of a political movement called the National Democratic Congress(NDC). The largest mass progressive movement in Ghana albeit with some reactionary elements under the same umbrella!

Inspired and imbued with Papa J’s sense of social Justice, probity & accountability, some of us became politically conscious.

While still alive, the most powerful tool employed by Papa J in his politics - especially after his retirement as President - was his most powerful voice. He had the voice of the people. And some people call it the voice of God.

With his all powerful voice, he fought for the masses. And the people loved him unconditionally until the end.

Did everyone love him? No. Many hated him for the wrong or right reasons. Those who love corruption hated Papa J. The croinists and the tribalists also hated him. The haters of truth, the guilty ones, were haters of Papa J because he constantly offended them with the undiluted truth.

The NDC party is the biggest legacy he left behind. Without the June 4 there would have been no Rawlings phenomenon and therefore no NDC.

It is therefore the moral and historical duty of the NDC leadership of today , to honor and immortalize the greatest political heroe of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

Anniversaries like today must be used by the NDC to teach the positive political history of Ghana. It may take a while before Ghana has another Jerry John Rawlings of blessed memory. The most charismatic and phenomenal man of our generation. I loved him like my own o n father. He was my political mentor. And I will always project and espouse his legacy, and his bedrock principles.

Long Live the June4 Revolution
Long Live the NDC
#thinklikenkrumah
#fightlikerawlings