Kufuor Weeps for Rawlings

President John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday admitted publicly that there is bad blood between him and former President Jerry John Rawlings, stressing that there has never been a good relationship between them since he assumed office in 2001.

According to President Kufuor, there has never been a single day that Mr Rawlings had agreed to live in peace with him, no matter how hard he tried to repair and strengthen the polarised relationship between them.

President Kufuor made the revelation when he addressed journalists in Kumasi yesterday as part of his visit to the metropolis to thank the electorate for voting massively for Nana Akufo-Addo and for supporting him throughout his eight years in office.

“Sometimes I just feel bad when I hear Rawlings, my younger brother, calling me all sorts of names and sometimes comparing me to criminals and thieves like Ataa Ayi; but it has always been my prayer that there will be peace between the two of us but sadly, it has never happened,” he lamented.

According to the President, personally, he has nothing against former President Rawlings but was quick to add that looking at how Rawlings treats him especially in the public domain, he did not know how he could accept him as a friend as most Ghanaians were longing for.

Touching on the relationship between him and Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), President Kufuor stated emphatically that he has nothing against Nana Addo.

President Kufuor said even though Nana Akufo-Addo sometimes disagrees with certain issues he proposes, it does not imply that they are not on good terms as is the case between him and former President Rawlings.

He pointed out that one thing Ghanaians should understand is that there is not a single day that Nana Akufo-Addo has spoken evil about him and vice versa.

“Even twin brothers do not always agree on every issue,” the President opined, stressing that even though Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, the Interior Minister is his blood brother, they had on several occasions disagreed on issues.

“So if Ghanaians still see Addo Kufuor as my younger brother, why do they want to say that I am not on good terms with Akufo-Addo who has always been with me in my cabinet?”

Ghanaians can be my best judges on the actions of former President Rawlings and myself and assess which of us is doing the right thing or the wrong,” the President stated.

President Kufuor pointed out that since his tenure was coming to an end, he needed to commend Ghanaians for the unflinching support they had so far given him, and added that their support had enabled the entire nation to gain international recognition.

He said Ghanaians all over the world had been rated as very peaceful people, particularly regarding the manner in which the December 7 general election was conducted, adding that had it not been the comportment of the electorate, things would have gone the other way.

According to President Kufuor, one thing Ghanaians should understand is that no human being can rule a nation without making mistakes.

He said if the people accepted him to be a man of peace with better policies, then those who were in one way or the other offended should “forgive me and vote for Akufo-Addo to come and continue with those better policies”.

In President Kufuor’s view, it would be a great mistake for Ghanaians to vote the NPP out of power.

He urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to come out with appropriate measures by which the electorate would be allowed to cast their votes before they are marked with the indelible ink.

He said no government can come to power with policies better than what his government initiated, and that “if all the parties are coming to continue with my policies, then someone in the midst of the NPP can best follow my footsteps in terms of education, health, rule of law among others”.

He said since the NDC and NPP have each had the opportunity to rule the country for eight years, Ghanaians should critically assess their performances before going for the round two of the elections.