General News of Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2018-01-10
Former Presidents Flt. Lt. Jerrry John Rawlings and John Dramani Mahama
Former President John Mahama has dispelled rumours that there is a dispute between him and former President John Rawlings.
Reacting to a viral video in which his predecessor was seen giving him a cold handshake at the recent Silver Jubilee celebration of the Fourth Republic, Mr Mahama explains that, having worked with the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a long time, he understands his mood swings.
“Sometimes he’s in a mood where he doesn’t want to engage in any conversation and so recently at the Thanksgiving; they were giving all kinds of interpretation to the handshake. There are occasions where he comes and you don’t know what mood he is in, he greets military style and passes but there are on some other occasions, I met him in Kpando and we had a very warm handshake and we exchanged pleasantries.
“There are sometimes you sit next to him and he is not in the mood to talk but sometimes you sit next to him and he is in the mood to talk. You have to learn what mood he is in and adjust to it.
“I don’t have any problem with President Rawlings; he gave me my opportunities in life. When I came in as a young member of parliament, it was his appointment as Deputy Minister that got me noticed and he appointed me as Minister of Communications until we left office in 2001, and so, I don’t have absolutely anything against President Rawlings,” Mr Mahama said.
He made the comments Tuesday evening during an interview with Abdul Hayi Moomen on the state broadcaster, GTV (GBC24).
Fierce critic
Mr Rawlings remains the fiercest critic of the erstwhile Mahama-led NDC administration despite being a revered member of the NDC.
In 2016, the NDC founder said he doubted Mr Mahama’s resolve to fighting corruption in his government.
“Well, he says he is fighting corruption effectively, I don’t think so, I think he could have done much much better,” Mr Rawlings had stated.
Corruption was one of the major issues the Mahama-led administration had to deal with.