Today marks the 29th anniversary of the 31st December coup d’état that brought ex-President Jerry John Rawlings to political power, a commemoration which in the last two years was devoid of the participation of President Mills’s appointees.
Like the last June 4 celebration, which Mills’s appointees boycotted, today’s event would not be exceptional as the guest list is devoid of government functionaries.
Ex-President Rawlings has given Ghanaians a hint of what to expect when he mounts the rostrum today- a scorecard of the performance of President Mills and his government. In their X’mas and New Year message, the ex-First Couple asked Ghanaians to pray for their political leaders so the wool blinding them would give way so they could get a clear vision of what the citizenry was going through.
Such political leaders, excited by the luxuries of their offices, were too distant from the realities on the ground, he and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings pointed out in the joint statement.
“We have to also pray for our political leaders and heads of institutions, some of whom have wool over their eyes so these can be removed. Many of our leaders are blinded by the luxurious attachments of high office and sometimes tend to overlook the true needs of the citizenry,” the message said.
“If our leaders endeavour to apply the truth at all times and work to protect the interests of Ghana, our new found oil resource and independence will be a blessing, not a curse. It is imperative that as citizens we eschew hypocrisy and petty partisan pursuits and protect the truth irrespective of our political, social or ethnic background,” the Rawlingses added.
As the party faithful throng the Teachers’ Hall where the “boom” delivery is expected to be made by party founder Jerry Rawlings, the party structure at the national level has hurriedly issued a statement associating the political grouping with the 31st December coup, preferably referred to as revolution by NDC faithful.
In previous celebrations, such leaders came under scathing remarks over their distance from the commemoration by those who see the “revolution” as synonymous with the NDC.
The statement, dated 30th December 2010 and signed by Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary, seeks to associate the party with the 1981 coup as clearly evidenced from the heading of the statement- ‘NDC Remains Committed To The Ideals Of 31st December 1981 Revolution.’
It was the “revolution” which saved Ghana, the NDC stated, from the verge of collapse, describing the period before then as the darks days in the country. This was a period when many could barely afford a meal a day, the statement added.
Political observers would watch closely to see whether President Mills, Vice President John Mahama who travelled to South Africa last weekend or indeed other top personalities would play any critical role in the activity. So far however, the programme posts only cadres as playing roles at the Teachers’ Hall event today.
With no speaking roles for them to play at the event, should President Mills and his Vice President turn up at the location, organizers would be hard pushed massaging the programme to make them relevant.
The activity would be dominated by cadres of the Rawlings’ revolution, whose angst with the Mills style of governance has made disturbing headlines in recent times.
The programme speaks volumes about the distance between President Mills’ appointees and the pro-Rawlings elements, with none of them mentioned in the guest list for the event which is going to be dominated by a public lecture.
An organizing committee dominated by pro-Rawlings personalities has planned the public lecture to hold at the 400-capacity Teachers’ Hall today, themed ‘Integrity For Sustainable Democracy.’
Scheduled to speak at the activity is the NDC founder’s spouse Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, whose name has made noisy rounds on the political turf in recent times over whether she is nursing ambitions of contesting the party’s presidential candidacy with incumbent President Mills.
The programme, which styles ex-President Rawlings as leader of the revolution, has a tall list of speakers, some of them lecturers at the University of Ghana, Legon and students among others.
As guest speaker, a feature of previous commemorations, Mr. Rawlings is set to deliver his characteristic scathing remarks or thoughts about the direction of the incumbent government, hints of which were contained in his Yuletide message to Ghanaians.
To be co-chaired by Dr. Stephen Ahiawordor, a lecturer at the Political Science Department, University of Ghana and Ebenezer Anowa, one of Rawlings’s associates in the Tema East constituency of the NDC.
Other leading speakers include Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Dr. Norge and former Minister for Health, Mr. Samuel Nuamah Donkor.
The event will be laced with a poetry recital by Nii Ashitey of the United Cadres Front (UCF) and cultural display by the Ghana Dance Ensemble.
Kizito M. Akudago, a final year law student, Rudolph Amenga-Etego of the United Cadre Front and Mabel Agordome all have roles to play at the function.