COMMENTARY ON THE EFFUSIONS OF FORMER PRESIDENT RAWLINGS

In 2008, the campaign message of the New Patriotic Party, NPP was that a vote for Professor Atta Mills was a vote for former President Rawlings. This implied that when voted to power Professor Atta Mills will be dictated to by Mr. Rawlings. President Mills has by word and deed proved the sceptics wrong by refusing to yield to the dictates of Mr. Rawlings and as a consequence he is receiving a barrage of insults and attacks from the former first family. So vituperative have such attacks been that the first lady has gone to the extent of unilaterally registering the National Democratic Congress, NDC logo as her personal copyright without the knowledge of Party Executives. At an event in Accra to mark the 30th anniversary of the 31st December Women's Movement, former President Rawlings is on record to have cited perceived “enemies and traitors” apparently in reference to his ruling party colleagues and the opposition NPP. Indeed Mr. Rawlings in his bitterness is doing himself more harm than good. Contrary to the disposition of Mr. Rawlings, fellow past President John Agyekum Kufour has carried himself with much decorum and depicted himself as a true statesman. Mr. Rawlings has become too obvious to predict. Since his advent to the political scene he hardly agreed with people he worked with. He has fallen out with almost all of them and in some instances described them in unprintable language.

Indeed Mr. Rawlings alone cannot be right and everyone else wrong. His fortunes and hard won image are gradually dwindling and the earlier he makes amends the better. President Mills was in academia when Former President Rawlings convinced him to join politics. Mr Rawlings self imposed image as an anti-corruption campaigner is now a mirage. He indeed lost that credentials the very day he allowed his wife Nana Konadu to contest President Mills for the Presidency. Much as Nana Konadu's right to contest the NDC Presidential primary is not in dispute, most analysts see the attempt as an act of greed given the fact that the husband was in power for nearly 20 years. NDC delegates were therefore right in rejecting her bid. The fact that the wife bid for the Nsawam Cannery and is now in full control of it speaks volumes. Years ago people were sent to the gallows for owning two toilets in their houses. “Two legs good, four legs bad indeed.” What the former first family refuses to acknowledge is the fact that Ghanaians have fast learnt lessons and will not sit down to be hoodwinked every day. Enough is indeed enough. The acts and omissions of the former first family are rather inuring to the benefit of the sitting President. He is rather gaining the sympathy of Ghanaians and even the global community rather than condemnation.

The recent MO Ibrahim Index on good governance placed Ghana Seventh out of a survey of 54 countries. Ghana's score of 66 is above the 2010 score of 64. Ghana ranked the second best performing country in the West African Sub Region. At the moment President Mills is out of the country to attend the G8 conference of Industrialised countries. He is among four leaders selected to represent Africa at the meeting. t therefore does not lie with Mr Rawlings to tell us which President is performing and which is not. Ghanaians have already made their minds as to whom they would vote for in the 2012 Presidential elections and the raving and ranting of former President Rawlings will make no difference. As the country inches towards another June 4 celebration, we expect more booms from the former first family but this will just be a drop of water on stone. Democracy allows the former first family to state their views on national issues but their persistent attacks on practically everybody leave much to be desired. If reports that Mr Rawlings will be announcing a new party on June 4 is anything to go by then it fits perfectly into the agenda. Mr Rawlings' aide, Kofi Adams was recently allegedly caught on tape saying they will do everything possible to stop President Mills from securing a second term. The government must be given the peace of mind to focus on its better Ghana agenda. At the end of the day the collective thumbs of Ghanaians will be the deciding factor.

BY: JUSTICE MINGLE, A JOURNALIST.