Rawling says 4 June Remarks Meant as "advice"

The former president, Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings, says the politics of deception and distortion is not healthy for the political climate that is being nurtured in the country. He explained that his remarks on 4 June were rather advice to ensure political stability and it is unfortunate that they have been distorted to serve the interests of some people. Flight-Lt Rawlings was speaking at a meeting with the NDC [National Democratic Congress] parliamentary caucus at his office in Accra. Manfred Asuboi-Mensah sat in for Radio Ghana.

[Asuboi-Mensah - recording] The meeting was meant to express solidarity with and congratulate the former president on his dedicated service to the nation, which has earned him international recognition. The well-attended meeting, which is the first since the infamous speech of Flight-Lt Rawlings on 4 June was also attended by the former vice-president, Prof John Atta Mills, and the minority leader in parliament, Mr A S K Bagbin. It afforded the former president the opportunity to explain what he meant on that day. In an uncharacteristic brief speech, Flight-Lt Rawlings said, he will continue to contribute to national development by way of sharing experience with President Kufuor. He said, whatever spin that is put on what he says, he will be vindicated in the final analysis [sentence as heard].

[Rawlings] The use of deceptive tactics - you know - the politics of deception, distortion, misconstruing what we say is not healthy for the political climate that was nurtured all those years, from the period of the PNDC [Provisional National Defence Council] on to the NDC. I am not the one who is trying to create the problem. I am the one who is trying to help to solve the problem. He knows it, the president of the nation. I have had three meetings with him and I try to contribute my [word indistinct] to share my own personal experiences with him and I will continue to do so, whether in private or in public.

It is rather unfortunate that what I said on 4 June should be so viciously distorted, but what I meant was a simple advice to make sure that this country never sees a 4 June event again. They know it...

[Asuboi-Mensah] For his part, Prof Atta Mills commended the MPs for their hard work in parliament. Ghana, he said, is greater than any individual or a group of people.