At The Blind Side Of Junior Jesus

Reflecting on the political history of Ghana, I came across the reign of Junior Jesus. A young brave military officer who took power through coup from some perceived military and civilian governments on two occasions. His first reign was a shorter period between 4th June - 24th September 1979, and his second-double reign was between 31st December 1981-January 1992 (as a military leader) and January 1992 to 7th January 2001 (as a civilian government).


The young military officer who couldn't stand the rate of corruption, proliferation and institutional decay at the era, staged a coup d'etat to bring a total change to the status quo. Immediately the coup became successful, he embarked on what he called it "House Cleaning Exercise". With this exercise, past military officials who governed Ghana and some top ranked Ghanaians became victims to the battle of the gun. Many were killed and others flew on exile. Three ex-military officials killed in a paraded firing squad were Lt. Gen. Afrifa, Gen. I. K. Acheampong and Lt. Gen. Akuffo. Utuka and Amedome.


During the period, all you could hear from the masses was the jargon "let the blood flow". This brave man in his regime claimed he wanted to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. In his quest to cub corruption, he chose the motto "Probity and accountability". Rawlings said the event (takeover) was not a coup d'etat and that he was launching a revolution "that would transform the social and economic order of the country".



Professor Kofi Awoonor also deemed the 31st December 1981 intervention as profitable because Dr Hillar Limann civilian government had broken the faith with the people.
This man who had nothing and came to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor is today among the few richest nobles in the country. People keep asking for the whereabouts of the monies he generated from seized property and the "don ko mi" of peoples goods. Well delving into his personal live is not my concern.



This man who overthrown, killed and whipped people because he perceived them as "corrupt beings" is the founder of the ruling party National Democratic Congress (NDC) - a political party which has governed many years under the forth Republic and is still governing. The man was the major critique to the estwhile Kufuor's government. He is the man of the masses.



Yes he is a charismatic leader but what beats our imagination is his complete silence over current happenings. People keep asking, is Junior Jesus alive? Has he seen what's going in his own party? Does he support the high incidence of corruption in his own party? Is probity and accountability dead?



The general question Ghanaians want him to answer is that, between Mahama's government and the military leaders he executed (their regimes) which of the regimes is more corrupt?


We the upcoming youth of Ghana will forever remember and keep records how he openly criticize and stand against what we are seeing today. Corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation of state funds, persistent increase in prices of goods and services as well the rampant social insecurity.


Junior Jesus, (Rawlings) if he is alive, then he must do something. He must follow the path of Obassanjo (former President of Nigeria). His ability to do that will earn him perpetual respect as the youth and people of Burkina Faso hailed the ghost of Thomas Sankara.


Junior Jesus, you have been the mouthpiece of the vulnerable, the hope for the poor. Ghanaians are calling you.
I remember the song we sang when we were kids, it goes "JJ do something before you die"
We want to hear him. We want to see his usual actions. Most of us, anti-corruption crusaders look up to him.
The masses are calling
People are overwhelmed
Junior Jesus, speak to Ghanaians because Mahama is corrupt and his government is a thief.


Nana Ofori Kissi Ratina