According Mr Rawlings, it was the mistake he made by failing to nurture “young, intelligent and responsible” leaders to take over from him, to continue the development programme he was pursuing, that has led to the return of “the selfish and greedy bastards” to the corridors of power.
Addressing a rally at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi to commemorate the 32 nd Anniversary of the June 4 uprising, the NDC founder accused President Mills and his functionaries of losing focus, and amassing wealth to the detriment of the economic and social wellbeing of the citizenry.
Former President Rawlings told the gathering that even though the people around President Mills are aware things are going the wrong direction and that a change of leadership is important, “there is a growing perception that a good number of people within the NDC would rather [want the party to] lose the 2012 elections to the opposition NPP rather than allow the NDC to retain power through a new leadership that would seek for justice”.
He accused President Mills and his functionaries of using money to buy the conscience of delegates of the ruling party ahead of its presidential primary slated for July 8 in Sunyani, adding that they were doing so by exploiting their “economic and social insecurity.”
Former President Rawlings reminded NDC delegates about “the moment of truth” that awaits them at the Sunyani congress, urging them to embrace the need for change of leadership to save the party from defeat in the 2002 elections.
According to Mr Rawlings, the Sunyani congress offers members of the NDC the opportunity to decide either to remain in the quagmire of uninspiring and indecisive leadership being offered President Mills or take a bold decision to effect a change that will usher in a more dynamic leadership that is in tune with the realities on the ground.
In the view of the NDC founder even though a lot of things are going wrong in the country and in the ruling party, President Mills and his appointees “can’t open their eyes to the realities.”
He accused the Mills administration of building a culture of disrespect and mistrust in the NDC, spearheaded “the young ministers”, adding that the party needs “a leadership borne out of the consciousness of the people to bring back the spirit of reconciliation.”
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who is challenging President Mills for the NDC presidential slot, lamented that even though the electorate voted for a change in 2008, “the change cannot be felt.”
She noted that President Mills and his appointees had lost a sense of direction, stressing “the time has come to send a message to leaders who have lost a sense of direction to redirect themselves to the path of probity, accountability, honesty, freedom, justice and integrity.”
The NDC presidential hopeful lamented that the nation is now is now in stagnant position under President Mills, cautioning “we cannot continue to be on our kneels; we cannot continue to be sleeping; we cannot continue to be in this despondent situation,” she charged.
Mrs Rawlings urged delegates of the NDC to take the bold decision of changing the party’s leadership at the Sunyani congress, adding “Ghanaians deserve that NDC gives them hope. We dare not fail the nation; posterity will not forgive us if we adopt the wait-and-see attitude.”
Kofi Adams, Spokesperson of the Rawlingses, took a swipe at President Mills over his decision to boycott the June 4 anniversary, accusing him of being a hypocrite, insisting “Mills does not deserve to lead the NDC if he does not believe in June 4.”
“This is an occasion to tell Ghanaians are readiness to fight corruption and social injustice, but look Mills and his appointees are absent. But when he was picking his forms all the appointees left their jobs to follow. This is hypocrisy, and we don’t want that kind of hypocrisy in the NDC,” he charged.
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