32nd June 4th anniversary marked with rally in Kumasi

Kumasi, June 5, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings has stress= ed the need for a new leadership in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to bring back the cherished values that were the core tenets of the June 4 uprising. He said probity, accountability and social justice, which were the basi= s on which June 4 was built, are currently missing in the leadership of the NDC and there was the need to bring them back into the party. Former President Rawlings was addressing a rally of NDC faithful to mar= k the 32nd anniversary celebration of the June 4 Uprising at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on Saturday.

It was under the theme: 93Unity in Diversity - Our Strength". Former President Rawlings noted that June 4, 1979 was a moment of truth in the history of Ghana and that could not be stolen from the people. He said after all the experiences in the June 4 Uprising, Ghanaians thought that selfish and greedy characters would be eliminated from the Ghanaian politics but this had not been done over the years. Former President Rawlings spoke about corruption and injustices in the previous NPP regime and said these tendencies were becoming more prominent in the current NDC administration.

He said some people in the present regime instead of helping to fight the menace had rather dipped their hands into the State resources creating financial empires for themselves.

Mr Rawlings said the current leadership of the NDC lost the 2012 elections about eight months ago and a time had come for party members to decide whether to allow the current leadership to remain or elect more dynamic leadership to bring back the values of the party. He said July 8, would be another moment of truth saying 93we will need= no gun or coup to bring the moment of truth to liberate us".

"The people have lost hope in the style of governance of the party. A new leadership born out of the consciousness of the people in Sunyani will bring back the spirit of the party in the country". He spoke against the use of intimidation and money to influence the delegates, who would attend the NDC congress and said he would do everythin= g possible to ensure that the election was free and fair.

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, former first lady and aspiring NDC presidential candidate asked whether the change the party promised Ghanaian= s was what they were experiencing.

She said the party was at the cross road and members had the chance to change the situation for the better.

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings said the time had come for a leadership which would bring back the ideals and tenets of the June 4 uprising into th= e party, adding that 93posterity will not forgive us if we allow the country= to go astray. There is the need for party members to rise up now". Other persons, who spoke at the rally, included Mr Teye Nyaunu, Membe= r of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, Mr Kofi Adams, Deputy General Secretar= y of NDC and Mr Namburr Berick, Coordinator of the Nana Konadu Campaign team.