Rawlings, Danso-Boafo case to be heard September 4

An Accra Fast Track High Court will on September 4 hear a writ filed by Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings seeking to restrain Professor Kweku Danso-Boafo from launching a book titled: “JJ Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana."

Ex-President Rawlings noted that the author, a former ambassador to the United Kingdom, did not wait for his final input and went ahead to print the book, which was expected to be launched in Accra on August 20 this year.

Former President Rawlings in an affidavit prayed the court to place an injunction on the book launch, accusing Professor Danso-Boafo of reneging on an earlier agreement.

According to Ex- President Rawlings, Prof. Danso-Boafo should have waited for him to review the book and correct all factual inaccuracies that it may contain.

He contended that the author of the book “has breached his own solemn undertaking with me and has published the book “J.J. Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana” with the view to launching same.

Ex- president noted that the former Ambassador “had not extended due courtesy to me relating to the agreement aforesaid and had dropped a special invitation inviting him to the launch of the unapproved book. Annexed and marked as Exhibit C is the special invitation dropped at my office by the Defendant/ Respondent.”

Touching on background to the agreement with Prof. Danso-Boafo, the former President said, "Sometime in 2006 the Defendant/Respondent approached me that he intended writing a book on my role in Ghana’s history with strong emphasis on how I transitioned from military leader to constitutional governance."

According to ex-president Rawlings after receiving the request, he "strongly insisted that I am not averse to him making me the centre of his intended political and intellectual pursuit, provided always that the Defendant will make available to me the manuscript for my prior approval for purposes of accurate historical facts and analysis."

Prof. Danso-Boafo agreed to the terms, the affidavit stated.

He said a letter acknowledging receipt of the manuscript was sent to the author on March 1, 2012 in which letter "I was emphatic that I handed over the transcript to a team of literary and legal experts to evaluate and recommend amendments where necessary, given the undeniable fact that the Defendant/Respondent’s whole academic enterprise centres primarily on my person."

Ex-Rawlings said he was determined to review the manuscript because it contained "several inaccuracies, misinformation and slants which have the potential to poison Ghana’s historical records and democratic evolution as well as bring my name and family into disrepute."

He was, therefore, praying the court to restrain the former ambassador from launching the book because doing so will be detrimental "to me which cannot be compensated in monetary terms."