Rawlings rejects politics of ethnicity

Accra, Oct 26, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday rejected the perception that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was for the Asantes while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was for the Ewes.

He said there were Ewes, who were members of the NPP just as some Asantes could be found in the NDC and it was, therefore, wrong for anyone to say that this or that party belonged to this or that ethnic group.


Former President Rawlings was answering questions at a press conference in Accra to respond to accusations by President John Agyekum Kufuor that he was looking for money to destabilise the country. He said: "Ghanaians should not allow tribalism to divide us. Don't allow yourselves to be divided. Don't allow I am an Asante, he is an Asante or he is Ewe to be used to fool us."


He said what was wrong was wrong and what was right was right and that he would continue to speak the truth and that the development of the nation was anchored on transparency, accountability and justice. Former President Rawlings said it was sad that the NPP Government, which was wooing investors, should be the same government to be shouting about imaginary violent change of government.


He said "destroying the credibility of the country can lead to destabilization and that after the Black Stars had performed creditably in the 2006 World Cup to put Ghana high in the World it was rather sad that they (Stars) only came back home to meet cocaine scandals.

Vowing that he would not stage any coup d'etat again Former President Rawlings, who had successfully staged two coups, said it did not take foreign money or money to buy arms from abroad to stage a coup and that all that was needed to stage a coup were in the country.


"The guns are in Ghana and there are some in President Kufuor's house since he is the President."


He said it was sad that President Kufuor should be using a coup scare to frighten Ghanaians and to make them live in a state of panic and that "when the government itself was faced with panic situation through its own activities then it puts fear into Ghanaians".


Former President Rawlings said power was sweet and that it was difficult to relinquish and that his fears was that if the NPP were defeated in Election 2008 it (NPP) might use "brute force to stay in power".