NDC On Warpath …Over Rawlings Death

The leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are seething with anger over what it describes as moves by President Nana Akufo-Addo to hijack  the burial activities of late former President Jerry John Rawlings.

According to the Party’s Scribe, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the party would not be treated as a guest when it comes to the funeral arrangement of its founder.

Hijack

“Everything about this funeral, so far, depicts an attempt by an opponent to hijack the funeral of the founding father of our political party, and we don’t think the funeral of our party founder ought to be organized somewhere, and we get invited,” he said.

The visibly miffed General Mosquito stated: “We have directed all branches of our party countrywide to organise events that will give a fitting celebration of the life of our founder. We will participate (in the national funeral) but that will not stop us from organising our own thing.”

In the view of Asiedu Nketia, President Akufo-Addo and flagbearer of the NPP has failed to honour the late Rawlings as the founder of the opposition party in his commiseration to the bereaved family.

“We were sorely disappointed that Nana Akufo-Addo, even in issuing a statement of condolence, refused or failed to recognize the fact that President Rawlings was the founder of the NDC. It is against all the different practices we have been engaged in, in the past, as far as the death of prominent members of the two political parties is concerned,” he added.

The NDC which is busily fighting for recognition at the funeral arrangement of Mr. Rawlings fell out with him long before his death, perhaps as a result of his attempts to remind the party of its roots.

Mr. Rawlings died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after a short illness.

The president Nana Akufo-Addo has since declared a week of national mourning while all flags in the country are to fly as half-mast in memory of Mr. Rawlings.

The family has informed the presidency about the death of Mr. Rawlings but that has also sparked some new controversy.

Facebook Rants

Stephen Atubiga, a Communication Team member of the NDC has taken to social media to vent his frustrations.

He wrote on his Facebook wall: “I am very disappointed in the family of the late president, for rushing to the Nana Addo’s government like JJ is a individual, or an NPP former party leader. JJ has a party he led before.”

He continued: “The family of JJ is supposed to have informed the leadership of the NDC party, and our current leader now JDM officially first.  Then together with the party, will select some executives to join the family to officially inform the Outgoing president Nana Addo about the death of our former leader.”

“We as NDC would be forced to have our own funeral for our leader, if NPP party   government is to lead this funeral. The NDC party has the capacity in given our former leader a befitting burial. The family of JJ should allow the NDC party structure leadership and our current leader JDM, to join hands with them for a historic burial as our own”, the onetime NDC Presidential hopeful argued.

Konadu Under Fire

Even as Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings continues to grieve over her loss, Former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (Rtd) says Mrs. Rawlings should consider stepping down from the 2020 general election as a sign of respect to the late Mr. Rawlings.

“If I were her, I would not stand. If she was to ask me, I’d say ‘Madam, it is okay, call it off as a respect to your husband,’” he said.

Mr. Nunoo-Mensah told JoyNews that Mrs. Rawlings, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Party, should forfeit her interest in contesting for the highest position of the land after her husband’s passing.

He stated that “the wife [Nana Konadu] should save him [J.J. Rawlings] from that embarrassment by pulling out” of the general election.

Mr. Nunoo-Mensah said Mr. Rawlings was in a dilemma as to which presidential candidate to vote for in the December polls.

“I asked President Rawlings, ‘your daughter is standing for the NDC at Osu Klottey for NDC…your wife is also standing. Which of the two are you going to vote for?’ He couldn’t answer me,” he claimed.

Burial Demands

Meanwhile, the families of Mr. Rawlings are appealing to the government to allow the remains of the late military ruler to be buried in Keta in the Volta Region.

Mr. Paul Badu, spokesperson for the Agbotui, Nyaho, Husunu and allied families, said burying Mr. Rawlings on the soil of Keta would be appropriate and resonate with their wishes.