"No Coup in 1979" - JJ

In an interview with the London Financial Times for the newspaper's Survey on Ghana which is published in today's edition - 4th November 1999 - President Rawlings says that it is wrong to describe the June 4th event as a coup

Click Here for the full interview.

Question: You recently marked the 20th anniversary of the June coup, an event which has prompted calls for a South African-style Truth & Reconciliation Commission. Do you think it is necessary?

President Rawlings answer: I don?t wish to quibble over your use of words, but the events of June 4, 1979 did not constitute a coup.

Nobody set out to overthrow the military govt of the day. I was on trial before a military court martial for an action intended to call attention to corruption within the armed forces. I was freed from my cell by spontaneous uprising of soldiers who were quickly joined by civilians angered by years of injustices, misrule and hardship.

I had to take charge to prevent a chaotic bloodbath. I literally spent those four months cooling down the anger of the masses despite the price that the military generals paid.

We had to impose life-long sentences on others to prevent them being executed.

You don?t have to be a social psychologist to appreciate the fact that the revolt of June 4, 1979 was a reaction to years of abuse under different regimes ? it was the effect, not the cause.

There is no doubt that in the heat of the events, as well as in the early days of the revolution, which began on 31st December 1981, there were some injustices.

We have investigated many complaints and petitions and where genuine mistakes or injustices have been found, compensation has been paid, confiscated properties have been returned, and perpetrators of crimes have been punished.

However, it is doubtful whether a truth and reconciliation commission would purge the country of bitter memories or would instead re-open wounds which have healed.

We have had more than six years of stable constitutional govt. Is this the time to start raking over every episode in our history and wakening old divisions? Individual cases can be looked at on their merits but I believe that our energies should also be directed towards a better future.