Rawlings Replies Tony Aidoo: Justify and Rationalise your Baseless Attacks

The Office of ex-President Rawlings has hit back at the Head of Policy Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency, Dr Tony Aidoo, for slamming the former statesman’s call for investigations into the 2012 elections.

Mr. Kwabena Andoh described as melodramatic and mischievous Dr Aidoo's unwarranted attacks on the former president, which he claims were designed to please President Mahama and court his favour.

Dr. Tony Aidoo, who once served under Mr. Rawlings as a deputy Minister of Defence, over the weekend said that he finds it intriguing to hear the ex-President calling for any such investigations.

To him, the use of the word “investigation” creates an impression that “the elections were deliberately massaged for the purpose of facilitating the victory (for the NDC)...and I think it is very irresponsible. I don’t know what Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has against the NDC”.

“It is about time that Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings actually searched for his soul; and examined his conscience and tell the truth. Because what he has done to President Mills and the NDC is unforgivable!...I know a lot but I won’t say it. And I am saying that Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, examine your conscience and come out and tell the truth because you are hiding something from the Ghanaian people and from the public,” Dr. Aidoo roared.

But in a quick rebuttal, Mr Andoh, who is Mr Rawlings’ Personal Secretary slated the former University Lecturer for his verbal attack on his boss and described his comments as unnecessary and calculated to cause disaffection between NDC faithful and the ex-President.

“At the meeting with AU Chairman, President Yayi Bone of Benin, the former President intimated that the just-ended elections were well-organised and comparable to the best anywhere in the world. The call for an investigation of the allegations by the NPP was to remove all doubts about an election that President Rawlings is convinced was credible.

“If President Rawlings had no confidence in the elections then why did he congratulate President Mahama and call on him to protect the ideals of the NDC?” Mr Andoh questioned.

He decried the penchant by some NDC officials to take on the founder of the party for no reason whatsoever.

“Criticising Jerry Rawlings was a ruse used by many to win brownie points during the era of President Mills. We cannot continue like this under the President Mahama administration and expect the NDC to move forward.

What does Tony Aidoo have to fear over an investigation when he is convinced the NDC won on merit? And does a call for investigation mean the NPP is right?

We have had one of the best elections in the country since independence and we need to remove the pall of doubt completely so the NDC can manage this country with utmost confidence.

If anyone has to examine his conscience, it is Dr Tony Aidoo. He has to justify and rationalise his baseless attacks on President Rawlings,” he added.