Leave Rawlings Alone --NDC Youth Forum

Threats on Jerry family and others...

WE'LL REACT DECISIVELY, IF... -Warns Youth Forum

THE NDC Youth Forum has warned that, despite its desire for peace, it will react decisively if any attempts are made on the lives of any of its leaders, especially on that of ex-President J. J. Rawlings.

Addressing a news conference in Accra this week, Mr Fifi Kwetey, spokesperson, said the forum had taken serious notice of recent statements made by the former President to the effect that dire attempts were being made by elements of the ruling NPP regime to assassinate him.

It had also taken notice of recent utterances by two leading members of the party, full of threats to the ex-President and this family and sounded a serious caution to the Government to prevail on its security operatives to stay clear from the former President, and further warned that "if those dreamers care just a little bit about the peace and cohesion of this country, then we urge them again to think hard and long before they embark on what we will call a Journey of Insanity.

The statement, in a serious tone, said:

"We of the NDC Youth Forum have called this press conference to bring to your attention what we consider to be very serious developments that do not augur well for the peace, security and stability of our dear nation.

"The Forum has taken serious note of recent declarations made by the former President to the effect that dire attempts are being made by elements of the ruling NPP regime to assassinate him.

"The Forum wishes to remind members of the general public that it was in this same manner that the former President declared, weeks ahead, that serious plans were being hatched by elements of this government to assassinate the overlord of Dagbon, the late Ya Na Yakubu Andani II.

"At the time, many did not take his pronouncement serious, but you and I are witnesses today of the heinous crime that was committed in Yendi just a couple of weeks after that declaration by the former President.

"A certain Kennedy Agyapong of the NPP recently stated on Peace FM that Rawlings and his household together with all his domestic animals will be killed if there is any coup attempt in the country whether the former President is involved or not.

"The other Agyepong, the Press Secretary to the President also stated on air that the former President will not know peace and that should any bad fate befall him nobody should blame the government.

"Another recent issue that is worth bringing to your notice is the reported statement made by the Air Force Commander, Air Vice Marshal Mantey that he would not be responsible if the former President Jerry Rawlings was shot by a soldier if he should attend the Memorial Service held in July for the first Air Force Commander, the late Air Vice Marshal De-Graft Hayford.

"The Forum has also taken note of clear attempts that were made and continue to be made by elements believed to be connected with the NPP government on the life of the former C. O. of the 64 Infantry Regiment, Lt Col. Gbevlo Lartey because of the vicious fabrications that he is involved with the former President in the planning of a coup against the NPP.

"We of the NDC Youth Forum wish to use the opportunity of this Press Conference to sound a serious caution to the government of the NPP to prevail on its security operatives to stay clear from the former President.

"On behalf of the millions of dedicated and devoted young people all over this country who continue to derive profound inspiration from the leadership of His Excellency former President Rawlings, we warn anyone contemplating the idea to think again. If those dreamers care just a little bit about the peace and cohesion of this country, then we urge them again to think hard and long before they embark on what we will call a Journey of Insanity.

"If some people think that because nearly three years after the killing of the Ya Na, no volcanic eruption has taken place and therefore a similar attempt could be easily made on the life of President Rawlings and the members of the NDC, then they had better think again.

"The People of this country have enjoyed a period of sustained peace and stability over the last many years especially during the nearly two decades of the leadership of the former President. The NDC handed over a peaceful and united country to the NPP in January 2001. We expect the NPP to protect that unity, cohesion and stability jealously and not to do anything to destroy it.

"We use this opportunity to call on the religious bodies, Traditional authorities, Civil Society Organisations, and the international community through their respective embassies to take note of these serious happenings that threaten the peace and stability of this country.

"We of the NDC Youth Forum are for a peaceful Ghana but let no one make a mistake. Our desire for peace should not be misconstrued to be our inability and determination to react decisively if any attempts are made on the lives of our leaders, especially on the life of the former President.

"A word to the wise, is more than enough".