Konadu ‘Murders’ Rawlings’ legacy

By Cletus Abaare

The waiting and doubts, the games and the suspense surrounding the political ambiguity of the former first family of the great republican State, Ghana, the Rawlingses, once upon a time, the most respected and honoured family in the political history in the country is over.

Yes, it’s now over and the directions and objectives are laid crystal clear for serious and level-minded political analysts and social commentators to examine and dissect them with rather sadness. That, the once shining and unchallenged legacy of Mr. Rawlings is finally murdered in cold blood by his own wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings.

Until Saturday, 13th of October, 2012, in the political history of Ghana when Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, the former First Lady finally laid the sharp knife on the most cherished neck of the former president’s legacy by accepting an endorsement as the flagbearer of the National Democratic Party for the December 7 elections, many were in doubts that such a sad history would never be allowed in such a mature political family.

Many political pundits, social commentators and Ghanaians say they are saddened and trapped in an unfriendly drama of how Ex-president, Ft. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings will redeem his murdered legacy that was built by ordinary Ghanaians.

What bugled many minds was his comments when he agree and willingly put into gambling his hard earned legacy in the history of Ghana’s politics and West Africa at large at already self-destroyed party platform, nest and formed by his wife out nothing but greed, selfishness and means to satisfaction of always be in power.

Many people are of the credible that Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings is just like leech that wants to hold onto its prey after filling its stomach and would finally bust. Others think that the woman who after her husband lost in 2000 stated “now the frog is dead without a place to its head” working for the NPP (NDP is just a decoy) for vindictiveness.

The former First Lady was unanimously declared the flagbearer of the party by the national executives of the party after she went into Saturday’s congress as the sole contender.

For decades now Mr. Rawlings has been rated as the most prominent politician and Leader and role model to many people in Ghana but unfolding events surrounding his political status as the founder of the National Democratic Congress are indicative that the Charismatic and astute politician and leader has now giving freely away his respect, honour and love from the people who made him who he is today.

The fact is Rawlings a seasoned politician and must not leave his teaming followers and run from a battle. Unlike many other leaders in Ghana's history, he led the country through the difficult years of economic recovery and succeeded in giving back to Ghanaians their national pride. Chazan (1983) observes "without Rawlings' strength of character and unwavering determination, Ghana would not have survived the Economic Recovery Programs (ERPs) of the 1980s put in place by the ruling Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC)."

Rawlings also instituted a transition from authoritarianism to multi-party democracy by attempting to decentralize the functions of government from Accra to other parts of the country. When the PNDC established the People's Defence Committees (PDCs), a system of cooperatives, it became a unique move never before seen in Ghana's political economy.

In 1992, Ghana held both presidential and parliamentary elections. Rawlings, who had initially resisted multi-party politics, was elected a democratic president and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) won an overwhelming parliamentary majority. The next elections were held in December 1996 and this marked a milestone in the fledgling democracy in Ghana; for the first time in the country's political history, an elected government actually completed its term in office, had an election contest, and secured a renewed mandate in a democratic manner. Through it all, the constant theme in Ghana's political and economic development has a lot to do with the Rawlings factor.

But nobody more than Rawlings himself has responsible for the muddy waters he is walking in and he still the only one who can wake up early from his political downfall , dust himself off the dirt and walk as a proud politician we knew and appreciated

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings becomes the second female flagbearer to contest the December elections after Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).

Mrs. Rawlings resigned from the ruling National Democratic Congress on Friday which paved the way for her to contest for the flagbearership position of the NDP.

Delivering her acceptance speech at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, Mrs. Rawlings thanked executives of the party and stated that she will do everything within her power to ensure that the NDP becomes a formidable party in the country.

According to her, due to the bad leadership exhibited by the NDC government under the late President Mills and President Mahama, the NDP is well positioned to win the 2012 elections for the benefit of Ghanaians.

Mrs. Rawlings promised that an NDP government under her leadership will ensure that Ghanaians gain access to quality education and healthcare.

She added that privileges and opportunities will be provided for the youth, women and children of the country. Stay tuned

Martin Amidu

Busted

…Sponsoring Ex-convict for Parliament

By TCCL Investigative Desk Report

Information reaching the Crystal Clear Lens is revealing that Mr. Martin Amidu, the sacked Attorney General and Minister of Justice appointed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) late President Mills’ led administration is not the honest and reputable person he wants Ghanaians to believe.

The information is also indicative that his constant struggle against himself to impose on Ghanaians that his is good charactered person, morally clean and a legal luminary is far the truth and might be deceptions for unknown reasons because he is fully sponsoring the campaigns of an Ex-convict to become a Member of Parliament in Ghana.

The supposed Lawyer is allegedly dolling out money to sponsor Mr. Mallam Yusif Isa who was convicted and thrown into jail by the Kuffuor’s administration for stealing money belonging to the state to contest as an independent parliamentary candidate in the Bawku West District where Majority leader and leader of government business in parliament, Hon Cletus Avoka is the incumbent MP.

As to whether the self-acclaimed lawyer is aware that he is undermining the 1992 Constitution of Ghana that clearly prohibits an ex-convict becoming a member of parliament in the country is yet to be established.

Article 94 (2) States:

“2) A person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament if he -

(a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana: or

(b) has been adjudged or otherwise declared-

(i) bankrupt under any law in force in Ghana and has not been discharged or

(ii) to be of unsound mind or is detained as a criminal lunatic under any law in force in Ghana; or

(c) has been convicted -

(i) for high crime under this Constitution or high treason or treason or for an offence involving the security of the State, fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; or

(ii) for nay other offence punishable by death or by a sentence of not less than ten years; or

(iii) for an offence relating to, or connected with election under a law in force in Ghana at any time; or

(d) has been found by the report of a commission or a committee of inquiry to be incompetent to hold public office or is a person in respect of whom a commission or commitee of inquiry has found that while being a public officer he acquired assets unlawfully or defrauded the State or mis-used or abused his office, or willfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the State, and the findings have not been set aside on appeal or judicial review; or

(e) is under sentence of death or other sentence of imprisonment imposed on him by any court; or

(f) is not qualified to be registered as a voter under any law relating to public elections; or (g) is other wise disqualified by a law in force at the time of the coming into force of this Constitution, not being inconsistent with a provision of this Constitution. (3) A person shall not be eligible to be a member of Parliament if he -

(a) is prohibited from standing election by a law in force in Ghana by reason of his holding or acting in an office the functions of which involve a responsibility for or are connected with the conduct of, an election or responsibility for, the compilation or revision of an electoral register;

Mallam Ali Yusif Isa, was sacked as Minister for Youth and Sports, over the loss of 46,000 dollars meant as winning bonus and imprest for the Black Stars. The money was to be disbursed as bonuses and imprest to players of the national senior football team and officials during a world cup qualifying match in the Sudan on February 25.

But before the ex-minister left Accra to Sudan on February 23, he allegedly removed the 46,000 dollars from the green suit case and put it in his flat black bag which he usually carried to the office.

The money was in three parcels of 46,000 dollars for the winning bonus and imprest, 8,686 dollars for per diem and 1,042 dollars per diem for the ex-minister himself. Mallam Isa put the 46,000 dollars and some items including an audit report in his green suitcase, which he used for the trip and kept the remaining in his briefcase, which he carried with him.

He was subsequently found guilty by an Accra High Court and jailed. Efforts to reach the former A-G for his response hit the rocks as several phone calls went unanswered.

Stay tuned for more