Former President Jerry John Rawlings says his nearly 20-year rule can be described as the best ever in the annals of the country's political history.
The former President who is also an AU envoy to Somalia, in an interview with a South Africa-based television station, eTV averred that the strengthening of institutions like the judiciary and empowerment of Ghanaians qualified him as the best Ghanaian leader.
He said, all these were done with a conviction that when Ghanaians are united with a sense of vision, and with a sense of purpose, “no one can take them for a ride”.
He stressed: “And my leadership, to be quite honest, I don’t know any other type of leadership that want to bring the best out of people…I will cite instances, the progress that was made within the judiciary, when people actually, you know, felt that they owned the political atmosphere.”
The programme host challenged him that during the revolutionary period, he sidelined the Ashanti’s and some Ewes, and even disposed off some Akan ministers when he took over power, “causing a great divide in government”.
But Mr Rawlings debunked that assertion and promised to make available “documents and personalities” both from opposition and from within the revolution period to speak for him on those allegations.
The former President said whilst some African countries refer to persons on the other side of the political divide as opposition, “in actual fact...they treat us like enemies”.
Mr Rawlings justified his long stay in power. He stated that he deliberately held onto power so he could empower Ghanaians.
“I lasted for many years not because I was using the coercive machinery, but because we were engaged in empowering the power,” he said, explaining that “Having become empowered, [the people] will demand accountability from you, will demand transparency from you, will demand integrity from you. How many of us in this position are prepared to render accountability to the people?”
“That is the difference.” He continued: “That is why they have a problem with Rawlings, and have to misrepresent it to make it seem as if he is divisive. He is so and so; he is so and so. No! Rawlings believes in accountability, he believes in transparency, he believes in the empowerment of the people.”
Meanwhile, Kofi Adams, the spokesperson of JJ Rawlings, has dared anyone with evidence to come out to accuse his boss of murder during his reign as a military ruler.
Mr. Adams told Citi FM in Ghana that although there were some excesses during the revolution, Rawlings as the junta leader never had a hand in any killing throughout his military rule.
According to Mr. Adams, “not a single person has so far proven that President Rawlings took a knife or a gun, threw or shot somebody to kill that person.”
From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
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