June"4" was against injustice - Rawlings

Accra, June 2, GNA- Former President Jerry John Rawlings, at a lecture to mark the 27th anniversary of the June Fourth military uprising described the action as punitive and corrective against social injustice rather than a violent action to terrorise top military officers and their civilian collaborators.

He compared the action to that of the discipline of a father to an errant child, and of Jesus' cleansing of the temple of exploitative money launderers and asked Ghanaians to be courageous to stand for the truth, and avoid all forms of political propaganda and exploitation. He said rather praying for the transformation of the moneychangers, Christ whipped out the moneychangers, adding that what people called as violence of the June 4 was what Christ did.


The former President, whose appearance at 1735 hours electrified the gathering at the Teachers Hall, and was later joined by his wife Nana Konadu, asked Ghanaians to be guided by the sore events leading to the June 4 Uprising, which ushered in the erstwhile Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and repeated an earlier apology for the excesses and suffering of innocent victims.


He accused the ruling government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), of using the clergy, the judicial system, and the intelligence network and propagandist tools to peddle lies about main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).


The former President, who is also the founder of the NDC, described the NPP as a criminal government, whose propagandist tools were designed to terrorise the nationals into a state of suppression.


Flt-Lt. Rawlings gave a recount of events day of June 4 1979, and accused Major Boakye-Djan, a leading member of the then AFRC, of attempting to use his position to secure different positions at different times, within the military service, daring him to publicly announce what role he played into making June 4 a success.


The Former President talked on a number of current and topical national issues, including the purchase of the controversial G-III jet, the breakaway from Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, former Chairman of the NDC, problems with Dr Kwesi Botcwhey, former Finance Minister over the release of funds for troops in Liberia, and national security.

He accused the NPP Government of using money to influence votes, and called of NDC party faithful not to believe Dr Asamoah and Dr Botchwey, who, he said, were using his name in their campaign of their break-away party and telling people the party would merge with the NDC at Election 2008.


He urged the Zongo communities, where the practice was rife to be on their guard against such misinformation.


Professor Freeman Koblah Atakpa, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast said all Ghanaians must embrace the June 4 1979 uprising as an indelible revolt against social injustice in the country's political history.


He said the current socio-political environment in the country should be guarded with care and never allowed to relapse to a level that could warrant such a revolt again.


Professor Atakpa spoke on the subtopic: 'The June 4 Uprising: Ghana's Perpetual Flame for Social Justice'.


The theme for the anniversary lectures was: 'Social Justice: Bedrock of a Vibrant Democracy.'

He said the uprising was a "rebellion" against a dehumanising socio-political situation, which came as a long awaited voice of the voiceless majority who had been suppressed and deprived of a meaningful life for far too long.


Prof. Atakpa said there were people who had stigmatised the uprising and wished it never happened because they had benefited from the social injustice of the time.


"Till today, they are all out to erase the spirit of the uprising from the minds of Ghanaians" he said.


He said the attitude of positive defiance, the preparedness to sacrifice one's life in defence of social justice, as well as a resolve not to succumb to corruption and greed in life, needed to be a clarion call for all.


Prof. Atakpa said the younger generation of Ghanaians, who formed about 60 per cent of the population, also needed to be educated on the fundamental need for social justice based on probity, accountability and transparency.


"Many of them, who are potential voters, did not have the experience which led to the revolt", he noted.

Prof. Atakpa said it was necessary to choose future leaders who understood and were committed to the course of social justice since it was an indispensable foundation for the success of any government. "Such leaders must be selfless, and courageous. They must not be people who take up positions for personal gains."


He said Ghana was endowed with plenty of natural resources, which could be purposefully turned around in a situation of fair play, equity and justice, to ensure that Ghanaians led meaningful lives.


Mr. Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central said the values and ideals of the "June 4" Uprising which took place in 1979 was still relevant today.


He said people have to be courageous in order to stand up against corruption and the social injustices in the system. The lecture from the young lawyer received spontaneous applause from the Cadres and sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He said the June 4 Uprising represents the courage to stand up against social injustice.


He accused the New Patriotic Party government (NPP) of using subtle methods, which is the media to harass its political opponents. "Right now the NPP is no longer using the guns and bullet to harass political opponents but the pen," he added.


He debunked NPP allegations that under the NDC government the country's economy and infrastructure were in.

He cited numerous road projects, hospitals, extension of water and electricity to the rural areas as some of the solid foundation laid by the previous government to support his argument.


He urged the rank and file of the NDC to arm themselves with some of this information to counter the vile propaganda and lies being spewed by the opponents in the media.


Dr. Tony Aidoo, a leading Member of the NDC accused the NPP as being a fascist government and lacks regional and tribal balance in the appointment of ministers and other public officials. He also slammed former appointees in the NDC government for being the cause of fragments in the party since those who held juicy positions at the time were no longer taking active interest in the party's activities.


He said the former appointees should be made to feel the heat and resume their roles in the NDC to propel it to victory in 2008.