The Upper East Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Donatus Akamugri, has called on members of the party nationwide to vote massively for John Dramani Mahama as president so that the party’s late founder, Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, can be accorded a befitting burial.
Mr Akamugri, who was addressing the party members in Bolgatanga at the NAFAC Grounds on Friday during a vigil night held in memory of Rawlings, said: “Everyone of us here, when you go home, make sure if we do not win the election, please, Rawlings should not be buried.”
Rawlings, a former president, died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra on Thursday November 12, 2020.
The vigil had a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bongo Constituency, Akayaari Gaaga Peter Clever Azitariga, a former MP for the Talensi Constituency, John Akologo Tiah, a former Upper East Regional Minister, Donald Adabeere, as well as regional and constituency executives of the party, women groups and many other prominent party leaders in attendance.
Reading a tribute during the vigil in honour of the founder, late founder, a leading member of the NDC’s United Cadres Front (UCF), Francis Ayaaba, described the former president as “a Junior Jesus” who brought electricity, drinking water, improved healthcare services and many other social intervention programmes to the people Upper East Region. According Mr Ayaaba, a highly charged group of junior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces made a revolt against the senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces with an aim to restore the image of the Armed Forces “which had fallen to very low ebb.”
He also recounted some of the profound statements made by Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings during the court martial where he declared: “Leave my men alone. I am responsible for everything.”
“Facing eminent death by firing squad, another group of juniors soldiers rescued him from the guardroom and sent him to the Ghana Broadcasting House on June 4, 1979, to broadcast the overthrow of the military regime which was dubbed house cleaning exercise. The revolt became popular by attracting the ordinary citizens, students and market women in Ghana,” Mr Ayaaba stated in a tribute read on behalf of the UCF.
Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings, according to the tribute, prepared and returned democratic rule to the country by paving way for President Dr Hilla Liman in just 112 days and cautioned Dr Hilla Liman to observe strictly the tenets of June 4, or else he would be back and truly by his words Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and his men struck on 31st December 1981 ushering in the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) which marked a popular revolution that later gave birth to revolutionary organs institutions such as the Workers Defense Committees, the People’s Defence Committees, Tribunals, etc.
Mr Ayaaba noted that discipline, integrity, hard work and justice delivery were the hallmarks of Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings era which protected the rural folks, who were mainly farmers, from rampant theft of their livestock.
“We can remember our founder J.J. Rawlings better if we adhere to his philosophy of probity, accountability, social, justice and social democratic ideals of the National Democratic Congress,” Mr Ayaaba.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya.