Former President Jerry John Rawlings has explained why he has chosen to wash the dirty linen of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in public.
Speaking during a fundraising activity organized by the Concerned Muslim Youth to rejuvenate efforts towards the construction of the National Mosque stalled for some years now, Mr Rawlings, who was accompanied by his wife Nana Konadu, said having tried the indoor approach of counseling the party about their shortcomings to no avail, he had decided on the current path of open attack.
He said there was a time when he used to pass on his criticisms through appropriate channels on the quiet, “but the way some of these mistakes were continued, it was as if some of them were quite deliberate or meant to destroy the NDC. But it is not possible to destroy the NDC.”
The ruling party, he said, should learn from what the New Patriotic Party (NPP) passed through in the last elections, during which, according to him, they dissipated funds yet failed to win the elections.
Rawlings said: “We should not forget how and why we won the elections, why we stayed in power for 18 years. It was because of our faith and belief in the truth, in justice and in fair play.”
If the NDC failed to learn useful lessons from this, they would suffer NPP’s fate in the next elections, he said.
“I know how much NPP poured into the elections, yet we beat them and so the only way to correct the mistakes of the Kufour-led government is to clean our house.
“If we do not clean up, things will not be well for us,” he added.
He once more expressed disappointment in the strides made so far by the Mills administration as he posed questions about just how far the country had gone in terms of development.
“Let us ask ourselves that are we anywhere near the dreams we promised ourselves; are we trying hard; are we making mistakes?” he asked rhetorically.
Turning his attention to the Ivorian crisis, he called for the intervention of the National Chief Imam, warning that should the crisis escalate, Ghana would suffer its share of the problems.
While praying for the two parties to let peace prevail, he wondered why it was only one of them that was asking for a recount of the votes.
He also called for support of the efforts being made by some African leaders towards finding a solution to the challenges in the nearby country.
“I wonder why it is only one of the parties that seems to be calling for a recount of the votes; so should the teams come out with the truth, the real truth, the world and all of us must accept the results.”
Nana Konadu Agyeman later donated GH¢5,000 towards the project after going round with her husband to exchange pleasantries with the people.
Speaking on behalf of Vice President John Dramani Mahama, the Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, asked Muslims to take their destiny into their own hands and stop relying on external assistance, especially from Arab countries, for their development challenges.
He expressed displeasure that most mosque projects were undertaken with funds from the Middle East, adding such spiritual tasks had a special place in the sight of God.
If Muslims continue to rely on such external assistance, they would lose their self-esteem and the accruing blessings to those who render the assistance.
Having lost the Accra Mosque situated in Accra Central at the site known today as Rawlings Park, the nation’s capital can no longer boast of an Islamic praying facility steeped in history, as the demolished one.
The mosque was demolished during Rawlings’ first coup when the place was said to be a haven for trade malpractices.
Soldiers on rampage at the time demolished the facility and left Muslims in Accra without a replacement until a site was given them near Nkrumah Circle.
This too was usurped eventually until the Kawokudi land was allocated. By and large, the management of the new project has suffered a number of fresh challenges.
Now local Muslims, suffering the embarrassment of the inability to complete such a project, have decided to attempt the climb once more through the gathering of last Saturday, with the National Chief Imam in the saddle.
By A.R. Gomda