Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has said the June 4, 1979, uprising and the December 31, 1981, revolution were products of specific historical circumstances and should not be discussed as isolated events.

According to her, whether or not Ghanaians choose to speak about those periods or educate younger generations about the conditions that led to them does not change the fact that they did not occur in a vacuum.

She made the remarks at the 44th anniversary commemoration of the December 31 Revolution held at Ada on December 31, 2025.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings noted that the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was not made up solely of military officers, stressing that civilians from diverse backgrounds played key roles in the revolution and subsequent governance.

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“There were professors and doctors from academia, retired officers, as well as representatives of fishermen and farmers. The 10-year history of the PNDC did not happen on the backs of military people alone. It was the inclusivity of every domain that made those 10 years possible,” she said.

She explained that commemorating the December 31st Revolution was also about honouring the memories of those who lost their lives and those who helped to lay the foundation for Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings argued that the resilience of Ghana’s democratic system today is rooted in the strength and commitment of those who contributed to the period preceding the Fourth Republic.

She cautioned against arrogance of power and taking incumbency for granted, warning that such attitudes could undermine national progress, especially in light of developments within the sub-region.

Touching on governance, she said no government can provide jobs for every citizen, making it imperative for leaders to create an enabling environment free from corruption, nepotism, ethnicity and marginalisation.

“This country can only survive if we do it together, with dignity, respect, integrity, transparency and accountability,” she said, adding that a national ‘reset agenda’ must include restoring Ghana’s moral compass.

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Dr Agyeman-Rawlings also warned against the monetisation of democracy, urging leaders and citizens to protect values that money cannot buy to safeguard the country’s democratic consolidation.

She called for constant self-reflection and correction in governance, likening leadership to aviation, where course corrections must be made while moving, not at the end of the journey.

On decentralisation, she said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives must ensure that the national vision is implemented at the grassroots, cautioning against deep partisan divisions that could stunt development.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings urged public officeholders, whether elected or appointed, to serve with humility and integrity, reminding them that they are custodians of the power of the people.

“You are not there for yourself or your immediate family. You are there to serve. Do not abuse your power and do not become arrogant,” she cautioned.

Watch the video below

Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ punchy speech at the 44th anniversary commemoration of the 31st December Revolution held in Ada. #gtv #news pic.twitter.com/2izDUsWAWp

— GTV Ghana (@GTV_Ghana) January 1, 2026