I have nothing against Rawlings - GCPP Leader

The flagbearer of the Great Consolidated People’s Party (GCPP) Dr Henry Lartey has justified why he petitioned both Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe alleged 2 million dollar gift given by Nigeria’s Sani Abacha to former Ghana President Flight Lieutenant retired Jerry John Rawlings.

Dr Henry Lartey said he holds nothing against the former president but was only calling for what the ex-president always stood for, which is ‘probity and accountability.’

“We want to know the exact amount he took and for what, who witnessed the recipient of the money, was it a loan or just a gift. Rawlings founded the NDC on probity and accountability and he has to prove to all of us that he still believes in the values on which he founded the NDC.”

The leader of the GCPP insisted that corruption is one of the plaguing issues that every country is fighting to eliminate which Ghana is also part, adding that if a former president of any country has accepted openly that they have been given a monetary gift, it is only appropriate to question why that exchange took place.

“So if I take that step I don’t think I need support rather not condemnation, unless we want to allow corruption to gain root in our system.”

On Monday, the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) petitioned the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate former President Jerry John Rawlings, who has confessed to receiving $2 million from Nigeria’s Sani Abacha during an interview with Nigeria’s Guardian Newspaper.

But just when the matter appeared to have died down, GCPP’s flagbearer, Henry Herbert Lartey, has resurrected it. In his petition, he is asking EOCO to among others; ascertain reason for the gift when it was clear ex-president Rawlings did not render any services to the Nigerian former ruler.

There was time in the history of this country that people could not talk about issues like this especially with the involvement of the person Rawlings but now things have changed and if Rawlings wants us to take him seriously for what we believed he stood for, then Rawlings must come clean, Dr Henry Lartey told sit-in-host of Onua fm morning show ‘Ye Sempa’.

“Let us do the right thing and Ghana will progress as desired” he concluded.

Below is the full petition:

Economic and Organised Crime Office

Head Office

Accra, Ghana

Public Petition Of Inquiry/Complaint

Petitioner: Great Consolidated Popular Party (and the Ghanaian Public at Large)

Respondant(s): Mr. Jerry Rawlings, and Nana Konadu Ageyaman Rawlings

Dear Commissioner,

The Great Consolidated Popular Party is requesting a formal petition of inquiry into key dealings of former President Jerry Rawlings. The thematic areas of inquiry/complaint are the following:

1. The historic public record notes that in 1998 Former President Rawlings denied having received financial support from the then President of Nigeria, Sani Abacha.

Today, he has publicly declared that he did in fact receive $2 million from the Nigerian President. This petition of inquiry seeks to ascertain:

2. The full context and/or reason(s) in which the funds were issued: In particular, were these funds issued in support of killing the prominent Nigerian environmental journalist Ken Sara-Wiwa?

3. The actual amount of funds issued (as there are discrepancies regarding the amount): Did he receive $2 million, $5 million, or $100 million?

4. What happened to the remaining £30 million loan from the initial £31.5 million that was issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland to International Generics (for which Mrs. Rawlings was the primary benefactor through a ‘frontman’ named Leon Tamman) under the British Export Guarantee Facility for the construction of La Palm Hotel and Coco Palm Hotel? It has been reported by the former Deputy British High Commissioner in Ghana, Greg Murray, in his book entitled ‘The Catholic Orangemen of Togo and Other Conflicts I have Known’ that only £1.5 million of the funds actually went towards the development of these enterprises, while the remaining £30 million was privately looted by Mrs. Rawlings via Leon Tamman. Is this true?

5. How did the Former First Lady Mrs. Rawlings acquire the Nsawam Cannery in light of her financial capacities at time?

6. Is it true that the Rawlings hold substantive shares within the Ghana Rubber Estate Ltd.?

7. Is it true that the Rawlings were using transporting gold to Switzerland on a regular basis?

8. The Black Star Shipping Line was sold during the Rawlings administration: What was the reason for selling the Black Star Shipping Line and its assets?

9. In 1979 the AFRC opened Account 48 for the deposit of seized funds which were deemed corrupt. What happened to the funds of Account 48?

We trust that Former President Rawlings will answer these questions honestly since he is the Champion of probity, transparency and accountability.

The full support of EoCo is herewith called upon in this petition.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey

Presidential Candidate

GCPP

Bright Dzakah