No December 31 Celebration -NDC

The National Democratic Congress NDC says it has no plans of Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the 31st December Revolution which falls on Monday. The NDC has been recounting some of its achievements ahead of the occasion and urges NDC supporters to feel proud because their efforts over the period have not been in vain.

Our reporter Stanislav Dogbe quotes Party sources as saying no activity has been ear-marked to commemorate the day and that this is the first time in two decades that the anniversary which has been part of the National Calendar will not be celebrated.

The erst-while Government of the NDC religiously observed the day even after the Supreme-Court had ruled that the Day should not be observed as a Public Holiday. 31st December each year since 1982 has been marked with route marches by members of the security agencies and Private Voluntary Organizations and many other organizations.

The opportunity to give the celebration a national outlook was however lost when the new patriotic Party NPP came to power. The NPP came to power in January this year.

The NDC however says Constituency branches and other progressive groups may organize some activities at the local level to mark the day even though the National executive Committee has not sanctioned celebrations at the National Party level.

Former President Jerry Rawlings, who led the December 31st Revolution in 1981 is currently out of the Country. Party sources say, the Party will not have held any activities even if he were in the Country.

Flight Lt. Rawlings came to power on the 31st December 1981 through a Coup d’etat less than three years after he handed over to the People’s National Convention – PNC’s Dr Hilla Limann.

The PNDC was in power for twelve years, and on the return to constitutional rule, metamorphosed into the NDC, which won two consecutive elections.