Rawlings, Tsikata Reject Awards

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has posted a “no, thank you” response to his nomination by President John Agyekum Kufuor for the newly-created national honour of The Grand Order Of The Star And Eagles Of Ghana, citing the conviction of Tsatsu Tsikata and the incarceration of the now released Dan Abodakpi among his reasons.

Following in his steps is the former National Security Coordinator under the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Captain Kojo Tsikata.

The former President's position on his nomination for the highest honour was disclosed by his Aide, Kofi Adams while speaking on Joy FM yesterday.

Former President Rawlings' “no, thank you” response to the nomination is premised on what he considers as the Executive's inability to do justice to many issues in the country.

Stating that the Office of The Former President has not been informed about the nomination, Mr. Rawlings' Aide nevertheless pointed out that the gesture is hypocritical.

He buttressed his argument by recalling what he said was the scuttling of a similar award by the University of Development Studies in Tamale to the former President, wondering why the same government would turn round to award him one.

“Rawlings will not be associated with the awards because he feels that the Executive, headed by President Kufuor has not done justice to many issues in the country,” the former President's Aide said.

Mr. Adams, speaking for his boss, pointed at what he said was the murder of the Dagbon King, Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani, the death in military custody of Alhaji Issa Mobila, Northern Regional CPP Chairman in Tamale and the recent imprisonment of former Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Chief Executive, Tsatsu Tsikata including the jailing of Dan Abodakpi, MP for Keta and former Minister of Trade and Industry.

Former President Rawlings, he went on, feels that in all the foregone instances, justice has been denied in view of which he declines the gesture from President Kufuor.

“All these are happening in spite of the fact that there was supposed to be national reconciliation.”

Continuing, he said “former President Rawlings believes that the state must give justice to the Yaa Naa, Alhaji Mobila, Tsatsu Tsikata and Dan Abodakpi.”

Even before Rawlings' vitriolic decline of the honour, many observers, against the backdrop of the former President's temperament and bellicose posture on national issues, maintained a “wait-and-see” attitude as they awaited his response.

The former National Security Coordinator, Kojo Tsikata, who was also nominated for a different category of awards, said he does not understand why he is being honoured at this time, adding that he does not even know where it is coming from at a time when according to him, President Kufuor and his cronies are “blatantly and cynically engaged in the manipulation of the judicial system.”

In a statement dated 23/6/08, he stated that “I have just returned from a trip outside Ghana. While abroad, I learnt of the bizarre proceedings in the High Court before Mrs. Henrietta Abban on Wednesday, 18 June which have led to the incarceration of my cousin, Tsatsu.

I have now learnt that my name is on a list of persons on whom national honours are to be conferred. I cannot fathom the mental processes that led to my name being put on that list. Let me put it beyond doubt that I will not accept any honours from Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor or any of his cronies who have blatantly and cynically engaged in a systematic manipulation of the judicial process”.

His reaction is coming upon the heels of the incarceration of his cousin, the former CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.

Tsikata has been nominated for The Order Of The Volta-Companion for his services in the area of Public/Security Services.

Tsikata is one of the six former government officials under the NDC regime listed to receive the national award.

The Office Of The President on Sunday announced the institution of the country's highest national honour to which serving and former Presidents who ascended the high office through legitimate means are entitled.

By extension, President John Agyekum Kufuor and his predecessor Mr. Jerry John Rawlings are both entitled.

Others who were nominated for the July 3 ceremony include the incumbent Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama and former Vice President John Evans Atta Mills.

Others in the line-up are the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo including many others who cut across party and social lines.

It is yet to be seen what the other four persons who held positions under the previous government and who have been penciled for the national awards would do.

Mr. E.T. Mensah, Vice Chairman of the NDC, also nominated for an award and a dyed-in-the-wool Rawlings's man, is certainly in a quandary under the prevailing circumstances.

By A.R. Gomda