The Opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hit back at former President Rawlings for �deliberately and unruly casting unjustified insinuations and insults� on former rulers of the country, especially Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor.
In his latest diatribe, the former military officer accused Mr Kufuor of stealing �massively� while in office between 2001 and 2008.
Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony of the regional camp of the International Youth Fellowship at the Adidome Senior High School in the Volta Region, Mr Rawlings described his successor John Kufuor as an �autocratic thief�.
�When people get up, they wanna create the impression to you the young ones as if the corruption started with this man, the young man, john Mahama, no, it started with Kufuor and that�s why I said Kufuor was an autocratic thief�, he told the students.
He swore never to stop reminding Ghanaians of former President Kufuor's alleged corrupt nature as well as the manner in which he plundered state resources while in office.
�People keep saying that I should keep quiet on Kufuor. The day I keep quiet on Kufuor, his image will become white-washed and he will use that stolen corrupt wealth to determine the political destiny of this country. I will not. All I have is my integrity�, he roared.
But in a sharp riposte, the NPP, in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey said Ghanaians are oftentimes baffled as to what the real issues are when Mr. Rawlings speaks.
Expressing �disgust� at the �constant insults and attacks� on the person of Mr Kufuor by someone who should be acting as a statesman (Rawlings), the NPP Chair said, �we find it highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative that Mr. Rawlings, a former military leader, later head of state, who should naturally be wearing the shoes of statesmanship�.Mr Rawlings behaves and talks like an angel and a judge of humanity when his 19year rule was inundated with atrocities and unbeatably dark days in the history of our country.�
Whiles calling on the founder of the ruling party to allow Ghanaians be judges of the various regimes that have had the opportunity to run this country, the NPP lauded Mr Kufuor for the systematic change in the fortunes of Ghanaians and leading the country to achieve a middle income status during his 8 year rule.
�Ghanaians are witnesses to the conduct of Mr Kufour since leaving office in 2009, the statesmanship, initiative, the international recognition, level headedness and the finesse with which he has handled life after the presidency. We urge Mr Rawlings to also show some statesmanship and exercise restraint in his public outburst, not only against Mr Kufour but all leaders of our country,� the statement read.
Read the full statement below�.
FMR. PRESIDENT RAWLINGS MUST THREAD THE PATH OF STATESMEN
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is disgusted at the constant insults and attacks from Former President Rawlings on the person of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
The New Patriotic Party agrees that former president Kufuor is not immune to criticisms.
We however find it highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative that Mr. Rawlings, a former military leader, later head of state, who should naturally be wearing the shoes of statesmanship, is deliberately and unruly casting unjustified insinuations and insults on his colleague.
Mr Rawlings behaves and talks like an angel and a judge of humanity when his 19year rule was inundated with atrocities and unbeatably dark days in the history of our country.
During the rule of former president Rawlings, so many lives were lost and up till now lives that were lost have not been accounted for. The murdered judges, ordinary citizens, businessmen, market women under his regime were murdered, tortured and humiliated. Whilst some fled to far and near lands he and his cronies autocratically held this nation ransom and dissipated our resources. The culture of silence, curtailed freedoms and lack of dignity were the hallmark of his years in power.
Even under what he describes as worst government, Ghanaians were free to express themselves on how the government should manage the state purse and the criminal libel law was repealed. One is baffled at times as to what the real issues are when Mr. Rawlings speaks.
It is a pity that Mr Rawlings who Ghanaians have forgiven despite years of loss of lives and property, and for the incarcerations inflicted on friends and relatives by his regime, is now calling someone who brought HOPE to Ghanaian all kinds of names.
It must be noted that the era of Mr Rawlings presidency saw a lip in the fortunes of countries around the world such as China, Singapore, Malaysia and Brazil some of whom sent experts to Ghana to learn from us. Ghana lost out on the opportunity in those 19 years of achieving middle income and building a foundation for a kind of take off that would have put the fortunes of this country when Mr Kufour and the NPP took over from Mr Rawlings in 2001 at unprecedented levels.
Former President Kufour�s track record in the 8 years of his presidency saw steady growth and a systematic change in our fortunes and achieving middle income status as a nation.
We are calling on Former President Rawlings to allow Ghanaians to be judges of the various regimes that have had the opportunity to run this country and stop acting pious and being the judge whilst calling others unpalatable names.
Ghanaians are witnesses to the conduct of Mr Kufour since leaving office in 2009, the statesmanship, initiative, the international recognition, level headedness and the finesse with which he has handled life after the presidency. We urge Mr Rawlings to also show some statesmanship and exercise restraint in his public outburst, not only against Mr Kufour but all leaders of our country.
Signed
Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey
National Chairman
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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