Vilification and intimidation will not kill NDC - Rawlings

Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday said vilification and intimidation of Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) by government would not collapse the party but would rather make it popular to win the 2004 elections.

"Ghanaians are not ignorant as to swallow all the ridiculous allegations being levelled against the leadership of the NDC," he said, adding that whoever thinks such acts would collapse the party is living in a fool's paradise.

The former president said this when he met the media and addressed matters, he said, were of national interest.

He said Ghanaians have come a long way from the days of empty promises and "meaningless ideologies," adding that only those "who callously deserted the country as a result of mal-administration and shameless looting" think that people have forgotten about the past completely.

Flt. Lt Rawlings said when the NPP first came to office, it proclaimed that all NDC officials were corrupt and went on to arrest and subsequently prosecute some of them for crimes that could not properly define in court.

He said though few of the NDC members must have indulged in unacceptable practices, the majority who were clean should not be denied the right to be judged fairly.

The former President said that it was NDC, which redeemed Ghana's international image from the low level to which it sank long before the party was born and that the NDC would still do it when it is given the chance.

He said it is only when the party stands united, principled and focused with purpose that it could be offered with sound alternative to these "pretentious and opportunists parading as champions of democracy and the rule of law".

He said District Chief Executives were also tagged as corrupt people and were subjected to prolonged investigations and harassment and that though many were exonerated and paid their end of year benefits, they are still to be cleared by government.

He called on all sympathisers of the party to join Professor John Evans Atta Mills to kick the NPP out of power come 2004 saying those who cannot stand the heat can leave the party.