JJ and Pres Kufuor - reconcile - Time is Up

FOR THE SAKE OF GHANA RECONCILE

As a country we are in danger of losing the plot and tearing ourselves apart. Democratic countries grow , prosper and are enriched by diverse views, different opinions and the cardinal principle of free speech.

President Rawlings is and must be given the freedom to operate freely in a democratic environment. He must be given all the courtesies that befit an ex- President

When ex President Clinton attended our Labour Party conference in Manchester I was impressed by the decorum and the respect that was accorded to him . When we start treating Jerry as our ex President he must be told in no certain terms that he must behave and act as an ex- President. President Kufuor could send him on errands and he could act as an ambassador for the President. I know that the majority of our party members will be spitting fire but for God’s sake and our country’s sake this can be done. There is no reason on earth why President Kufuor cannot be friends with ex President Jerry Rawlings - they are all Ghanaians, existing on the same land, breathing the same air and like it or not both have their constituencies.

The security forces have expressed their concern about the behaviour patterns of our ex President. Our current President touch on this issue in his address to party faithful at Offinso and others have jumped on the bandwagon spitting fire and in some instances hurling personal insults at the ex- President. I am not privy to the deliberations of the security forces neither am I aware of the intentions of the ex- President. What matters to us is we must not lose sight of our fragile democratic experiment and our desire as a country to forge a cohesive , fair and equitable society. History will judge all of us , our children and grand children will read our utterances, speeches and comments . One day they will be discussing what we did and said when our 2 living Presidents were not on speaking terms.

The African Democratic experiment of “zero sum game” where the winner takes all is sad, dangerous and acts as a magnet for frustrated minorities, the poor and the voiceless. The African democratic principles where politics is generally the “politics of the belly” and outright sycophancy is a disgrace to the collective conscience of the elite and intelligentsia of the continent.

Our ex- President Jerry Rawlings may be deluded in his “supposed” attempt to usurp power through the ballot box. Jerry is fully aware that Ghanaians and the world at large will not accept any dismantling of our democratic process by the gun, therefore my advice to ex president Rawlings is by all means criticise, debate, argue but win the hearts and minds of the electorate by the power of ideas.

As a nation our opinion leaders must be bold and principled to speak the truth and stand up for what is right. If Jerry has any negative plans regarding our democratic experiment he must be advised not to even try as it will lead to bloodshed, chaos and anarchy. It is right and proper that the security forces stay alert .

However, it is wrong and unacceptable for a member of the Council of State to insult and hurl abuses at our ex- President. Members of the Council of State must rise above the political dividing line they must act as our mentors and elder statesmen/women. They must have the guts to call the ex- President and advise him on his duties and responsibilities but not to use the “FM” Stations(terror on the airwave) to insult.

Our country is a beautiful country . We are a loving, caring and compassionate people. I acted as the Chairman of the Bedfordshire Congolese Association for a year and all the Congolese and other Africans I came into contact heaped praises on our current President and the tolerant nature of Ghanaians. My daughter has been helped, loved, fathered by Ghanaians whom I have never met in my life at Darfur. The military observers and the elder Ghanaians have acted as her guardian angel and I am grateful to our Ghanaian culture and tradition of love and compassion ..

I will be provocative and bold. I know most members of our Party will not buy into it but it must be said. My love for my country and the future of our children and grandchildren is greater than my love for any Party.

I suggest our current President must have a dialogue with ex President Rawlings. They must meet occasionally to discuss matters concerning our nation. President Kufuor must use some of the talents of Jerry. He can represent the President at some functions dealing with issues dealing with HIV, Global Climate and Poverty issues. If it is done in USA, UK and other developed democracies we can do it.

I know President Kufuor has a big, generous, loving , forgiving and a Christian heart. Go for it Pres, Time is up leave us a legacy of oneness, love and a united nation.