I adore Rawlings - Victor Smith

The former Special Aide to ex-President Jerry Rawlings, Mr. Victor Smith says he supported the call by his former boss to security officers to disobey unlawful orders from their superiors in the run-up to the December elections.

Smith said the call, which emanated from the now famous meeting of former security chiefs at the Ridge residence of the former President, was a genuine one with very positive intentions and wondered why the government had misinterpreted the meeting.

Rawlings' statements, he stated, were often misinterpreted and given added twists that were not originally intended.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Smith described circumstances around his dismissal as unfortunate and said he still had not determined the reason why he was dismissed, and neither has he been offered any.

He intimated that he did not want to delve into allegations into the reasons why he was dismissed. But since that unfortunate turn of events, Smith said he has tried in vain to get an explanation, asserting also that he had, until last Saturday October 4, not met the former first couple. On October 4, Victor Smith turned up for the NDC's manifesto launch at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, which event also had Mr. and Mrs Rawlings at the high table.

“I sent him a text message to congratulate him on his birthday but I got no reply. Perhaps he was not by his phone,” he noted.

But the strained relations notwithstanding, Smith said he still adored his ex-boss and founder of the NDC, even though he does not relish a return and would certainly not go back to his former job even if he were to be offered it.

Victor Smith was a staunch defender of the Rawlingses until he was given the boot on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 when he was directed by his boss to prepare a letter announcing his own resignation from office.

Part of the sms text read; “Thanks for your service to my office. [I wish you the best] as you continue your political career hopefully in the office of Prof. Mills”.

[Read further accounts of Victor Smith's encounter with Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on the Super Morning Show, including why he wants to run for President one day.]

Story by Isaac Yeboah