Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has spoken about the infamous babies with sharp teeth term introduced in Ghana's politics by the late President Jerry John Rawlings.
Speaking on the Starr Chat programme, Wednesday, April 20, 2022; Ablakwa said the term did not refer to any specific politician even though a number of young politicians back in the day have been ascribed that label.
"It started with a speech that ex-president Rawlings gave at one of our party events in Kumasi. He talked about these ‘babies with sharp teeth’. That was where he ended, he never mentioned names.
"In all sincerity, nobody ever called me that 'go after the former president,' used unprintable language, no. It was not even my style."
He continued: "Over the period, those who have studied me closely have realized that I do not go about insulting elders or even younger people. I don’t believe in the politics of insults."
Rawlings, who died in 2020, referred to the term a number of times but never once mentioned the people he was referring to.
It was largely rumoured in political circles as reference to young NDC politicians who were tackling the former president in media interviews. Ablakwa, Stan Dogbe, Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Richard Quashigah.
In 2021, after his passing, a former confidant and one-time Member of Parliament, Fiifi Kwettey told GhanaWeb about what the term really meant and why Rawlings birthed it.
According to Mr. Kwettey, Rawlings's drive to change and drive the country forward influenced many of his decisions at his young age, and even reflected in the naming of his children.
But of course, many didn’t necessarily agree with his methods, and this somewhat caused a rift between some members of his party and himself.
The phrase; “babies with sharp teeth” eventually became a popular one Mr. Rawlings used to described persons whom according to him, were babies in the NDC but were ‘biting’ hard at him whenever he criticized some happenings in the party.
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Yes you were one of them,those who never worked and had positions on the silver platter.You, Ofosu Kwakye, Fiifi Kwetey,Afriyie Ankrah, Stan Dogbe,Twum Boafo etc but now own mansions in expensive areas. Whether you and your colleagues have looted Ghana or not, I am not the one to judge you but one day you will stand before your creator.
That’s why you’re too ***barred word*** to know that Former President Rawlings was talking about you guys who were once eaten the crumbs from his table have now grown wings to insults him left, right, center and back. Greedy Bastards as he once referred you guys.
The former President knew what he was speaking about, and he needed not to, because it was so obvious. And the good Ghanaians, who unfortunately are unduely underrated by the NDC, knew and understood how he was feeling and where he was coming from. As much as to say, by their deeds, we shall know them. A word to the wise is enough.
Did he have to?
OH, SO YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE SHARP TEETHS. ERH? YOU, FIIFI KWETEY, SAMMY GYAMFI, OFOSU QUAKYE, AND THEM THEM ALL. YOU KNOW YOURSELVES, ABI. STOP THE HYPOCRICY.