I only apologised for Veep - Rawlings

The Evening News -- Former President Jerry Rawlings has said that he did not in any way query the vice-President for being late to the funeral of the late Alhaji Maida, former NDC regional chairman at Tamale. “I only apologized on behalf of both of us for keeping the crowd waiting under the scorching sun for so long.” He stated.

The ex-President gave the explanation when he addressed a cross-section of NDC supporters at Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region on Wednesday. He made a stop-over on his way to Accra from Tamale to console Mr A.A. Munufie, NDC co-chairman, who had lost his wife and son within two months.

Flt-Lt Rawlings said, “most of the people had fainted at the time we arrived, after calling on the two Imams, and it was only fair to apologise for myself and for the Vice-President.” He, therefore, wondered how a mere apology could turn the other way round, saying, the country needs peace, unity and love.

The ex-President said, “a government’s responsibility is to ensure peace and not disunity. I believe in justice and want to see it prevail, let us all love peace and have respect for the truth.” The former President could not help nodding his head when an 18-year-old girl, Irene Kuruwa, recited a poem, “whatever you do people will talk about you,” and urged him to stand firm.

Flt-Lt Rawlings called on members of NDC “not to regret that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is in power. “Let us respect them for the seat they are occupying, because we have loaned it to them for four years, after which we will take it back.” Filled with optimism, the ex-President indicated “if election should take place today, NPP knows it will lose by 120 per cent.” He explained that the NDC’s loss in the election “is a beautiful learning process for all of us because it has offered Ghanaians the opportunity to discern between the right and wrong.

Noting that some NDC members were not behaving well by allegedly receiving monies and defecting to other parties, Flt-Lt Rawlings indicated that it was important for the party to increase the number in Parliament since that is “the only way to slow down the wrongs of the NPP.”

“Let’s eschew bitterness, forge ahead for success,” he added. Touching on the unconstitutionality of the Fast Track Court, the former President was of the view that the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice “should not be made a scapegoat. The entire government should take the blame.”

Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the party, in his welcome address pointed out the brutalities meted out to NDC supporters in some parts of the region about which the police had done nothing. He cited Kintampo, where the constituency chairman had about 17 of his motorbikes burnt, saying, although the police have been informed, no action has been taken.