Barely 24 hours after arriving in Accra from Kumasi, where he and his sweetheart attended the 60th Birthday bash of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, former president Rawlings has gone public to deny that he had reconciled with former President Kufuor, as was published by The Chronicle and other media publication last week Friday.
Mr. Rawlings claims he was ambushed in Kumasi, and that there was no reconciliation, as was published by the media. Speaking to joyonline in Accra on Friday, former President Jerry John Rawlings insisted that he would keep chasing after justice for injustices, corruption, and crimes that occurred under the Kufuor-led administration.
And, until that is achieved, Rawlings said he would find it difficult reconciling his indignation at the rule and person of Kufuor, so much as to render efforts at reconciling their differences unproductive.
According to Rawlings, he was grateful for the many efforts Otumfuo was making to reconcile him and Kufuor, however, it would be a dangerous precedent to set if the many crimes and blatant corrupt practices that were fictitiously investigated, do not come to justice. “Quite frankly, I don’t see how we can talk about resolving differences, when these issues have not been dealt with, have not been investigated, etc., okay. Resolving so-called differences can come about, you know, when we get to the bottom of the abuses that took place (under the Kufuor-led government). In other words, let’s come to terms with the reality of what happened.
“I am a strong believer of justice, in the power of virtue, okay, and I am afraid if people are going to practice vice, and you expect me to feel comfortable with them, I will have difficulties with that, and so will my wife,” former President Rawlings reiterated.
The following is how The Chronicle reported the original story on Friday, read on. The Long-cherished dreams of many Ghanaians to see the two country’s surviving former presidents, Mr. Jerry John Rawlings and Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, come together, came to pass yesterday, when the two exchanged pleasantries at the 60th Birthday of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, which was held at the St. Cyprians Anglican Church in Kumasi.
The proud and colourful occasion, which brought delegations from neighboring African countries, became the reconciliatory platform for the two prominent personalities, whose long standing political rivalry had become the source of concern to many Ghanaians. The two ex-presidents, and their better halves, exchanged heartwarming greetings and cheers in the presence of the Otumfuo, signifying the promise made by the Asantehene two years ago to reconcile the two experienced politicians.
During the 2008 electioneering campaign, the Asantehene made a promise, when ex-President Rawlings visited him at the Manhyia Palace, to foster unity between him and Mr. Kufuor, after the latter had left office.
Even though it is believed the two have been meeting the Royal King occasionally behind closed doors, what occurred at the St. Cyprian’s Cathedral yesterday, was a blissful and a memorable sight, which many Ghanaians will love to remember.
The forecourt of the Anglican Church was filled with the serene atmosphere of peace and unity, as the two former first couples joined the King of Asante to receive the communion and benediction from powerful clergies of the church. The occasion also climaxed the Asantehene’s 11 year reign, as the custodian of the Golden Stool and the Ashanti Kingdom.
