If someone retires from a job after 20 years on it, it could be difficult for one to accepts his/her retirement.
This is the situation former President Jerry John Rawlings finds himself. He is in a situation which can aptly be described as withdrawal symptoms, of power.
Ever since handing over power in 2001, Rawlings has been pretending to tell people how influential he is within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
It is against this background that the late President John Evans Atta Mills lost the 2000/2004 elections; because of the perception that Rawlings will control him if elected President.
In the run-up to the 2008 elections, many Ghanaians became convinced that the late Mills was his own man; and so, therefore, cannot be dictated to by Rawlings.
The final evidence that made the good people of this country believe that Rawlings cannot influence the late President John Atta Mills was when he (Mills) turned-down the wish of Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings over the choice of his (Mills) running-mate.
Since John Mahama assumed office, former President Rawlings has been engaged in whispering campaign that he virtually controls President Mahama.
For example, many political watchers know that for the past six (6) weeks President John Dramani Mahama, has bent on having some ministerial reshuffle and Rawlings has obviously picked up that information.
His recent calls over the past month for President Mahama to reshuffle his cabinet, is only in furtherance of influence-peddling activities – i.e in case Mahama does the reshuffle, Rawlings will go about bragging of his control on the President.
It is obviously against this background that the Minister for Information and media Relations, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, issued a statement asking all those who have been playing politics with President Mahama’s reshuffle to stop.
“If at any time his Excellency the President decides to reshuffle his cabinet, his decision will neither be influenced nor clouded by such reports, but will be done through sound judgement and a careful consideration of the resources at his disposal,” Mahama Ayariga indicated in his release.
According to the minister, publications hinting of a possible list of hands to be reshuffled are elementary political tactics designed to stay the hand of the President assuming his intended reshuffle; and warn that no one, including former President Jerry Rawlings can stampede the President into carrying out a reshuffle.