Rawlings & Nana Konadu Beg For Cash

A letter from the office of former President Jerry John Rawlings, soliciting for money to enable him celebrate the 33rd June 4 Anniversary, at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region and Aflao in the Volta Region, has left many members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) shell-shocked.

Many people, who have sighted some of the letters, were quick to ask whether Mr. Rawlings want them to sponsor a programme in which he is going to denigrate President John Mills, and spoil the party’s chances of securing a second term in office.

According to them President Rawlings has always, since the coming into office of President Mills, attacked the latter’s integrity at the least opportunity.

But even before the letter could be responded to, the chiefs, elders and people of Aflao have issued a statement, asking Mr. Rawlings and his wife to relocate the event from Aflao, and calling on the security agencies to withdraw any endorsement of the programme taking place in the area, as they do not want to appear anti-government.

The statement released yesterday was signed by three personalities, namely: Torgbui Nyuiemedzi Anubo IV, Senior Chief Divisional Chief of Aflao Traditional Area, Prof. Ernest Dumor, Chairman of the Aflao Council of Elders and Christian Yevunya, Chairman of the Aflao Youth Association.

Meanwhile the youth of Aflao have poured into the streets, wielding placards that read: Jerry You Have Graduated From Salomey to Salopa; Volta Region Women Too Want To Be President; So Nana Konadu Now Controls Jerry; Konadu Stop Acting Like Lady Macbeth; How Many Aflao Citizens Have You Employed At Nsawam Cannery, to indicate the seriousness of the position they have taken.

The letter, coming from the Ridge residence of ex-President Rawlings and being distributed by his agents, was signed on his (Rawlings) behalf by the Director, Office of President Rawlings, Naval Captain H. Afeku-Amenyo (Rtd). It was written in the later part of May.

But it is not clear whether Mr. Rawlings has sanctioned the contents of the letter, as there is a history of some of his officers using his name to solicit for funds from government officials and NDC members of Parliament without his knowledge and approval.

Indeed, quite recently, an officer, whose name was given only as Johnny, was fired from that office over revelations that he had used the name of Mr. Rawlings to solicit for funds from some notable personalities in the NDC.

The letter, strangely, did not give vivid details of the programme outlined for the celebrations, but only said the programmes would be addressed by Mr. Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, who was interestingly titled: Dr. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

What is interesting about the letter is that it directed the prospective sponsors to hand over their contributions to the bearer of the letter, adding that their financial contributions will be acknowledged within a week after receiving the money for the celebration.

Another shocking thing about the letter is that, it was dispatched many days after an invitation had been sent to numerous government officials and bigwigs in the party to attend the durbar marking the anniversary. . According to the Chiefs and people of Aflao, in the press release “they are apprehensive of the choice of Aflao and the timing for this celebration” given the fact that they have “placed before government some demands backed by Constitutional Act 462 of 1993.”

These demands they named as: ” creation of Aflao municipality; “the provision of infrastructure in Aflao Township for which for more that 30 or so years no government has paid heed”

They contend that the Traditional Authorities have had to “calm down mounting pressures and agitations among the youth, generated through underdevelopment issues of which the 31st December Revolution and the June 4 uprising are no exceptions”

The people believe that in view of the fact that their demands are yet to be fulfilled, they “are apprehensive of the choice of Aflao and the timing for this celebration”

They underscored that they “feel very, very uncomfortable for the Aflao Traditional Area to be used as a platform for staging a political contest”

“Consequently”, said the statement, “we the Chiefs and people of Aflao, hereby register our disapproval for and objection to the choice of Aflao for the celebration of this year’s June 4 Anniversary and strongly disassociate ourselves from the celebration and its ramifications”

They accordingly appealed to the security agencies to take note and withdraw any endorsement of the event, stating in an unambiguous terms that they “strongly advise that the venue for the celebration be changed to any location outside the Traditional Area”

The statement was copied to the Chairman, Planning Committee, the 33rd Anniversary Celebration of June 4 uprising. Meanwhile, in a related development, Mr. Kofi Adams, spokesperson for the Rawlingses, has cast innuendos at the Chiefs and people of Aflao, saying it is unfortunate that they have allowed themselves to be manipulated to take the position they have taken.

Mr. Adams declared that the June 4 33rd Anniversary Celebration would be held at Aflao irrespective of objection of the Chiefs and people of the area.

Mr. Adams spoke on Joy FM’s afternoon news programme last Friday.

The Chiefs and people of Aflao’s objection to the celebration of this year’s June 4 in their town is a confirmation of The Heralds lead story of edition 38/12 with the banner headline: JJ LOSING GRIP ON VOLTA.

Readers should turn to the backpage for pictures of placards that the demonstrating Aflao youth were carrying as at yesterday.