What Rawlings Actually Said

...........When He Met With NDC Fmr Executives



A copy of the statement read by NDC Founder and former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings when over 100 former party executives called on him on Tuesday has been reproduced below.



RAWLINGS CALLS ON FORMER PARTY EXECUTIVES TO HIT NDC CAMPAIGN TRAIL



NDC Founder and former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings says his criticism of the party is always done with deep pain, but failure to do so will be a betrayal of the people who held the party up and gave it a life.



President Rawlings, however, called on former party executives from across the country to hit the campaign trail because their input is valuable to the cause of the NDC.



The former President made the call when over 100 former party executives called on him to encourage him to join the campaign trail to ensure victory for the NDC in the December elections.



In an address read on behalf of the group by Alhaji Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah aka Alhaji PMC, the former executives said: “it is our belief that your party needs to be revolutionized and reinvigorated. We as former executive of this party from various levels can therefore not continue to sit idle when just a few people in the name of being executives of the party or ministers of state engage in acts that have the tendency to destroy this great party of ours.



“We share with your concerns and we are here to identify with you. We also will want to inform you of plans we have put in place to help in the 2012 general elections.



“…Our campaign machinery cannot fly without your involvement. We have witnessed our campaigns in the past and can say without fear or favour that your absence on the trail is not a good development.



But the party founder in response said: “I have in recent public statements expressed my desire to see the NDC win the election and have also expressed the feeling that John Mahama has brought some sense of hope to the NDC.”



President Rawlings also noted that he wished the current crop of party executives would take a cue from the level of deep commitment and love exhibited in the past by the former executives.



The founder said even as we introduce young faces into the party we should not ignore the old experienced hands who still have so much to offer to the NDC.



He also lamented the divisions that within the party which led to the establishment of the NDP with the aim of salvaging the ideals of the NDC and called on the new party to consider withdrawing its parliamentary candidates from constituencies where the NDC had credible candidates.



Mr. Kofi Adams, spokesperson for the former President enjoined the former executives to strengthen their front and constitute themselves into a formidable group or organization so they can offer valuable advice and input to the party’s progress.



Notable former executives who called on President Rawlings were Nana Osei Bonsu, former National Vice-Chairman, Kofi Mintah, former central Regional Chairman, Kofi Sarfo, former Eastern Regional Chairman, Nana Nimpong, founding member from Brong Ahafo, Hajia Tanato Yakubu, former Northern Regional Women’s Organiser and Iddrisu Ismaila, a former Constituency Chairman in the Northern region



Please find below the full text of President Rawlings’ statement.



Hitting The Campaign Trail



My dear former executives and elder statesmen of the National Democratic Congress;



Let me first express my sincere gratitude for finding the time and energy to travel from various parts of the country to converge here in the supreme interest of the party.



At times such as this, I wish many who currently hold the helms of the party have the same level of deep commitment and love that you exhibited in the past and which has manifested yet again, today. I thank you once again for this great show of deep sense of belonging to our political tradition.



My dear friends and senior colleagues; I am also deeply touched by your plea that I overlook the deep problems our party has encountered since 2009 and join the campaign trail.



I have in recent public statements expressed my desire to see the NDC win theelection and have also expressed the feeling that John Mahama has brought some sense of hope to the NDC.



What has really given me hope, however, is the fact that you as former Chiefs of our party have noted with concern the problems that encounter our party and which cannot be wished away simply by the possibility of an electoral victory.



It is important that your statements here today are not cosmetic and will be followed up with real action and words of reproach and action to the current leaders of the party, some of whom approach party issues as if they have no understanding of the issues that affect the ordinary people of Ghana.



As a party we have failed in several aspects of governance, particularly with respect to offering confidence to the people that they will receive justice at all times. I need not delve into the details because you are aware of these and I have stated them several times over.



When I speak publicly against my own party it is with deep hurt, but I cannot betray the people who held this party up and gave it a life when many had little belief in us. You more so than others did so because of our religious adherence to the basic principles of probity and accountability. Corruption in its various forms and especially lack of justice in government leads to national instability.



I enjoin all of you here to hit the campaign trail. Your input is valuable to the cause so don’t go back home and watch from the sidelines.



Events of the past three years have led to divisions some of which led to the establishment of the NDP with the aim of salvaging the ideals of the P/NDC.



We may however have to call on our dear brothers and sisters in the NDP, the party leadership and membership to consider seriously withdrawing parliamentary candidates from constituencies where the NDC has credible candidates.



I hope to play my part in this election period. I am four years older than I was in 2008 and all the exertion plus my international roles mean I am a tired man. I was hoping to retire after the last election but unfortunately things did not fall in place the way they should have.



We must keep the channels of communication open so we can work hand in hand tore-ignite the revolution to restore our party to its rightful position of respect and value in our society.



Corruption and injustice has never had and will not ensure any future in national governance.



Thank you.