JJ urges supporters not to repeat mistake of 2004

Former President Rawlings has urged supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be vigilant and avoid a repeat of the 2004 elections. According to him, this was the last chance for the party, hence the need to ensure that the ruling party did not 'steal' the elections, because the party was determined to remain in power, no matter the consequences.

“If we make that mistake, and these people retain power, they would destroy the nation. The victory of the NDC is assured. God has done his part for us, and we need to play our part to be vigilant,” he said.

Jerry John Rawlings, who was addressing huge crowd at Mantse Agbona in Accra last Saturday, warned supporters of the party that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not believe in free and fair elections, and must therefore be monitored closely to avoid any rigging.

According to him, the victory wind was blowing across the country, and the excitement of NDC's victory was in the air. “I hope you are not going to make the 2004 mistake. This is your last chance,” he said.

He noted though the victory of Barrack Obama would be replicated in Ghana, supporters of the party must not take things for granted.

Responding to cheers in Ga that “J.J baa he o tee” literally meaning, “J.J come for your stone,” he smiled, and asserted that, “I don't need it now, because I have told you so. What I want now is freedom and justice. I am today asking you to judge among all the presidential candidates, about which of them you can entrust the nation's destiny into, and go to bed and sleep soundly that your properties would not be stolen.”

According to him, ever since he started campaigning for the NDC and Prof. Mills, he had seen clearly the victory, and had received various text messages indicating that the NDC was on its way to victory, saying, “You tasted us, and tasted the NPP. In 2000, the NPP used deceit and lies to ascend to power, and there was nothing that you could use to detect their lies, today everything is clear, and you need to rally round and vote for the NDC.”

He complained bitterly over how the projects and initiatives of the 31st December Women's Movement were being sabotaged by President Kufuor.

According to him, the plight and the economic hardships facing the nation could be reduced, if Prof. Mills, whom he described as a man of integrity and honesty, was given the mandate to rule.

Joining on the campaign platform was Mr. Charles Kofi Wayo, a former member of the NPP.

He lambasted the NPP and stated that he knew them, and that the leader of the NPP did not care about the welfare of Ghanaians.

According to him, initially, he thought the NPP was better than the NDC, but after joining them, he observed that the NPP was 100 times worse than the NDC.

Mr. Wayo, leader of the United Renaissance Party (URP), said after his interaction with Prof. Mills, the NDC presidential candidate, he realised that he had passion and feeling for people and the children, and implored Ghanaians to vote massively for NDC.

He eulogised the NDC founder, and contended that the best party to transform Ghana and restore the nation's hope, was the NDC under Prof. Mills.

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who indicated that she was in the Central Region working assiduously for the NDC, told the huge crowd that what she had seen so far indicated that the NDC was on the way to winning the elections.

He prevailed upon Ghanaians to vote for an honest, dedicated, sincere and passionate person like Prof. Mills.

According to her, the NDC had since 1996 declared that the nation was moving forward, and made a mockery of the NPP's slogan of moving forward, describing it as “moving forward with cocaine and corruption.”

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Daniel Annang, charged party faithfuls to remain committed to the party, and not to be deceived by the NPP.

On the platform was a popular boxer, Briama Kamoko, alias Bukom Banku, who joined the NPP during the recent bye-election, alleged that he was deceived by the NPP. He said after joining the NPP, he noticed that the party was full of corruption, lies and deceit.

The Regional Chairman, who served on the occasion as the Master of Ceremonies, introduced the various aspiring parliamentary candidates in the Greater Accra Region.

Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, National Organizer of the NDC, kicked against the proposal by the police to recruit people to man the polling stations during the elections.

According to him, the NDC had its own men to monitor the elections.

Other speakers included Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary, Hon. E. T. Mensah, MP for Ningo Prampram, who led the chorus to once again sing “Onward Christian Soldiers…”

Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings ended his delivery with a military song, “Ozam nama, oo zam nana ee…”