Some Journalists paid to discredit me - Rawlings

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), July 22, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday said some Journalists have been paid to run a campaign of calumny against him and some Ministers, who served under him.

He said personal accounts have been opened for some of these Journalists while others have been given mansions to wage a war against him and his Ministers in the print and electronic media.

Former President Rawlings, therefore, urged the people to disregard all the lies peddled against him, saying that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was applying the tricks they used to win Election 2000.

The Former President, who was addressing separate durbars at Dormaa-Ahenkro and Sunyani as part of a three-day electioneering campaign tour of Brong Ahafo Region, said Ghanaians were totally disappointed in the NPP Government because it had failed to fulfil its 2000 election campaign promises.

"The NPP promised the people heaven but rather has taken them to hell through mal-administration, looking at the economic hardships people face", he said.

He said the NPP slogan for positive change had turned negative because it had worsened the plight of the people and urged Ghanaians to consider their current conditions before going to the polls on December 7.

"The NPP government has been the most corrupt in the country," he said and accused President John Agyekum Kufuor and Ministers of stealing state money and properties adding that none of the NDC Ministers had left the country "since they did not commit any crime during their term of office as they worked hard to save their nation".

The former President paid courtesy calls on Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu 11, Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area at Dormaa Ahenkro and Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri, Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, at Sunyani.

The two chiefs advised political party activists to desist from using inflammatory language during their campaigns to ensure peace before, during and after the elections and pledged to advise the people to avoid violence.

Mr Collins Dauda, NDC Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman and Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, former Regional Minister of Ashanti accompanied Former President Rawlings.