In a subtle attempt to discredit claims by former President J.J. Rawlings that he is the best ever Ghanaian leader, ex-President J.A. Kufuor has described Mr Rawlings as a man who is full of himself.
Mr Rawlings, who is also an AU envoy to Somalia, stoked a controversy in an interview with a South Africa-based television station, eTV when he asserted that the strengthening of institutions like the judiciary and empowerment of Ghanaians qualified him as the best Ghanaian leader.
“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,” he stressed.
But in a sharp rebuttal, former President Kufuor has called the bluff of his predecessor for blowing his own trumpet.
Moreover, when asked by Joy News’ Jefferson Sackey if he concurs or holds a contrary view to the claims, Mr Kufuor replied: “Let the people of Ghana say so [that Rawlings is the best leader Ghana has ever had], otherwise it becomes a boastful statement.”
Former President Kufuor, who attracted the accolade ‘Gentle Giant’ during his eight-year rule, further maintained: “I am not prone to boasting, I don’t like that”.
He justified his position with an Akan proverb which says ahwene pa nkasa to wit ones does not need others attention to promote itself, insisting “let the people of Ghana say, over this period, this is the best leader we have had, I will not say I am the best, I won’t say that; it should be the people I led.”
Asked to assess his tenure as the President of Ghana, he remarked: “I did my best for my country.”
He was convinced that Ghanaians were largely satisfied and approved of his leadership style, “otherwise they wouldn’t be coming to me for guidance and advice, if they were not satisfied.”
Meanwhile, a governance expert, Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, suggested that former President Rawlings’ claim could be subjective depending on how one views it.
He said even though excesses, especially trampling of human rights, of the revolutionary regime could not be ruled out of his 20-year rule, he contributed greatly to Ghana’s return to constitutional and democratic rule – stabilizing the Fourth Republic – and reforming the economy in the 80s.
“So those issues are there and would always colour and discolour his records,” he told Joy News.
Dr Akwetey called for a “more dispassionate analysis” of his assertion to ascertain its veracity, “but I think he’s made very significant contributions”.
From: Ghana l Isaac Essel l Myjoyonline.com
http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201111/76285.php
No comments:
Post a Comment