Govt uses gun to condone corruption -JJ

Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana, has indicted the ruling NPP government of using the gun to protect and condone corruption, armed-robbery, and social vices among others in the country.

According to him, the current administration, led by President John Agyekum Kufuor, has grossly abused the discipline, sense of patriotism, upholding the true sense of justice and integrity and other virtues and values, which are the core ingredients in the quest to develop the nation, and replaced it with indiscipline, arrogance, lies and deception, saying, "Until we as a nation uphold these virtues and values, the nation would not survive."


The former President said this, when paying a glowing tribute to the late former Commissioner of Police, David Walenkaki, whom he described as a patriot, for laying his life for the stability of the National peace, when the family of the deceased, led by Mr. Simon Apio, a son and other family members, including the wife of Walenkaki, paid a courtesy call to officially announce the death of the Ex-Commissioner.


According to Rawlings, "Although Walenkaki was not a statesman, he was able to help restore discipline into the country. Under his rule, he did not use his position or the security agencies or the gun to support or condone vices such as armed-robbery, corruption and others that are being perpetrated by the current administration in the country."


Wearing a worried expression about what he termed as the destruction of sense of value, truth, honesty, integrity and discipline, which he underscored, were bequeathed by David Walenkaki to the nation, Rawlings said, Walenkaki reflected the true virtues of humanity and must be given a befitting burial. "I would be doing a great injustice to this man if I fail to recognize his role in ensuring that guns were not used to submerge the truth, but to protect residents in the country and the constitution after risking his life for the nation," he underscored.


Suggesting that poverty and hardship has become the cornerstone of the current administration, to the extent that citizens are disillusioned, the former president said, Walenkaki's regime saw recruitment and promotion in the Police Service done on the basis of merit but not what is being done now.

"Mr. Walenkaki has served this country very well to the best of his capacity. I wish to acknowledge what he has done to that effect represents the virtues of humanity." Expressing deep sorrow about the death of Mr. Walenkaki, Mr. Rawlings, who subjected the NPP government to criticisms of destroying more fabrics of sanctity, truth and integrity, said, "The sense of discipline upon which this nation was brought was completely turned around and abused."


On his part former General Officer Commanding, Ghana Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, said he was saddened by the death of Walenkaki, pointing out that he developed what he described as building or sharing of ideas and resources with him. Mr. C.K. Dewornoo, a former Inspector General of Police (IGP), also paid tribute to the deceased for what he described as encouraging performance, noting that it was under the tenure of Walenkaki that armed robbers and other vices were resolutely fought and brought to minimal.


According to him, Mr. Walenkaki, was an inspirer who did a lot to ensure that successes were chalked in the area of security, stability and peace during the regime of the defunct Provisional National Defence council (PNDC). "We lost a colleague who was very instrumental, selfless and dedicated to the service of this nation.


His name would remain among people who fought for the truth, discipline and justice," he said. A Former Commissioner of CID, Mr. William Aboah also extolled the virtues of the deceased. The speakers pledged their support to the family, to see to a befitting burial for the late police officer. He also re-echoed the sentiments expressed his colleagues that it was true the selfless, dedication and instrumentality of the ex-commissioner that peace restored in many parts of the country. Two bottles of schnapps were presented to the former President in line with tradition.