Positively Examine What Mr. Rawlings Says

Ex-President Rawlings

Some Ghanaian politicians will probably label H.E Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings intolerant Statesman in Ghana politics. But it is not the wish of the rat to come out from its abode in the day time for no reason, maybe something peculiar and of great concern has gone wrong somewhere.

The Political Messiah and unbeatably charismatic campaigner hailed by greater percentage of the Ghanaian population, and strategically employed by its party seems almost forgotten.

The Founder of the National Democratic Congress has lamented seriously concerning the lapses in both his party and the government in power as a whole, and this has given some people the opportunity to brand him as enemy of progress. But the question is, have we been able to positively examine what Mr. Rawlings has been reiterating concerning the injustices and the rise of corruption paving their way through our politics?

Serious attacks precipitating from some politicians whom he had even nurtured, and guided through politics have never spared Mr. Rawlings and his family.

These individuals have turned their back on him and his family due to the Rawlingses' unwillingness to sit down for thieves and political babies to ruin Ghana and the party that was solidly founded on sound principles.

The NDC with its slogan Unity, Stability and Development is the only socially democratic political party in Ghana. Upon identifying some inefficiencies and inaccuracies in the ideologies of the party, the Founder of NDC has never let go those in the party seen to be thieves and babies.

He has continuously cautioned them on numerous platforms so they can go back and follow the ideals of the party.

Many corrupt people in the NDC will not understand the import of what Mr. Rawlings reiterates until tragedy strikes within the ruling party. But it is not too late to fathom it deep now. Warning utterances are hard to listen and heed to, but the truth is that such words are formed to liberate mankind, and inject discipline into leadership so that concerned institutions and persons will team up and plan towards sound economic recovery and eradication of corruption.

In terms of personality, Mr. Rawlings may not be the person one may like. Such is life. Man is not supposed to like everyone. Everyone has their own personal issues that come together to make them who they may represent in the eyes of their judges, and that is why we need not be too judgmental in our discussions and arguments.

If one knows how immeasurably Mr. and Mrs. laid down their lives to campaign for the NDC for H.E the late President Mills to become president, one will be a little bit respectful and grateful, and stop pouring insults on the Rawlingses.

If one has taken time to discover the weight in Mr. Rawlings democratically handing power to H.E Ex-President Kuffour in 2001, which demonstrated the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence in 1957, one will not stretch forth one's left hand and point it at the Founder's house.

Ghanaians should look deeply into the fundamental principles of the NDC and check whether those principles which comprise social justice, probity and accountability are being followed as expected. Some 'dirty acts', as P.C AppiahOfori puts it, still exist in government.

The foundation on which the Political Jeremiah did found the NDC is very strong, and if put into practice will make Ghana a citadel of an unarguably corruption-free nation that ensures economy, efficiency and equity.

Some members of his party have rebelled against Mr. Rawlings, and that the party seems to leap from one disaster to another. He has always communicated his feelings about the ongoing corruption and malpractices in government, but very few listen.

After all, everyone has their 'elastic limit…with his pal…',Al-Hajj newspaper tells the public. The paper continues '…scathing and unjustifiable verbal assault' have the potency to mire long-standing pleasant relations that exist among people. One can be at pains with comments attributed to the ingrate, undoubtedly soiled, and the politically immature, since such hurtful comments expose the victim to public ridicule and opprobrium.

One annoying thing is that the lives of those who lay the innuendoes, and those behind such an evil ambush may greatly be disappointing and nauseating in the eyes of well-meaning Ghanaians. But such is life.

Whenever the tree allows a gap to be created in it, any animal just enters into it and does what it likes. Catholically, founders become immeasurably hurt when there is deviation from the norm and the code of ethics that bind their party and its members, but critics may not be able to caravan into their minds and thoughts to assess and evaluate the troubling waves experienced by them.

The only unqualified opportunity for such critics is to make very harsh comments. Hurtful comments are acidic; they kill the great intentions of good and humble leaders, and misdirect the well-planned decisions of such leaders, and make their close allies reject them and go ahead to execute their own political agenda with their faithful.

Indeed, we cannot keep on throwing punches at our founders and patriarchs haphazardly. A nation without a leader who respects democracy and rule of law suffers. Founders deserve better. Those who politically mentor and help us gain a meaningful political life deserve better. Elders deserve better.