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The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), praised the late founder of the NDC, Jerry John Rawlings, as a selfless leader who genuinely cared about the well-being of the ordinary Ghanaian. Ablakwa contrasted Rawlings’ leadership with the current administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, accusing it of failing to uphold the principles of modesty and genuine concern for the people.
Ablakwa expressed his views during a commemorative lecture on the 44th anniversary of the ‘June 4 Uprising,’ held in the Hohoe Municipality. The lecture, themed “Saving our Democracy: The Spirit of June 4,” shed light on the growing discontent with the current administration and the desire to return to the leadership principles embodied by Rawlings. With economic challenges and persistent concerns about nepotism and accountability, many attendees longed for a leadership style reminiscent of Rawlings.
The public lecture followed a wreath-laying ceremony at the Evangelical Presbyterian Park in Hohoe, led by former President and NDC flag bearer John Dramani Mahama. Before this, a health walk through the Hohoe township took place.
In his address, Ablakwa criticized the excessive number of presidential staffers under the current administration and the wasteful spending on luxuries, such as the President’s expensive private jet trips, which he deemed unnecessary considering Ghana’s economic difficulties. He emphasized that during Rawlings’ tenure, there was no misuse of national resources for personal comfort and extravagance, highlighting Rawlings’ modest and down-to-earth leadership style.
Ablakwa also raised concerns about the National Cathedral project and the demolition of important structures that preceded it. He suggested Rawlings would not have supported such actions and emphasized the need to learn from Rawlings’ legacy. He criticized nepotism within the government and contrasted it with Rawlings’ governance approach, which was free from nepotistic practices.
Ablakwa highlighted Rawlings’ commitment to effective leadership, his aversion to making excuses, and his dedication to problem-solving. He lamented the absence of similar qualities in the present government leadership, stating that the younger generation needed more inspiration to look up to.
He called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to take action on investigations into the killing of eight people during the 2020 elections, echoing Rawlings’ commitment to justice and accountability.
Zanetor Rawlings, the MP for Korle Klottey and daughter of Jerry Rawlings, addressed the audience, advocating for unity and emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the welfare of the Ghanaian populace. She encouraged party members to remain loyal to their compatriots and uphold the values championed by her late father.
Other speakers at the lecture, including the General Secretary of the June 4 Movement, Eric Bortey, highlighted that ordinary citizens drove the forces behind the June 4 Movement. Bortey criticized the government for mismanaging the economy, claiming it was regressing to the days of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) and making Ghana unattractive even to coup plotters.
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Source: Omanghana.com
