JJ rawlings: His Revolution, His Democracy

BY: NANA BOADAA

Besides our first president Dr. Kwame Nkruma, no political leader has had as much impact on Ghanaaians as J.J. Rawlings. He has influenced the lives and souls of Ghanaians more than any living politician today. J.J. Rawlings, a former air force officer, was twice the head of state of Ghana ( 1979-1980, 1981-1992), and the first president of the fourth republic of Ghana(1992-2000) . Through his revolution, the collapsed bankcrupt Ghana, which was no where to be found on the world's economic and political map, was finally welcomed and praised by the political world, and ' today, GHANA IS A BEACON OF DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA AND BEYOND.

Revolution , according to Jeff Godwin, is any or all instances in which a state or a political regime is OVERTHROWN and thereby TRANSFORMED by a popular movement in an irregular, extraconstitutional and or VIOLENT fashion. The most important aspect of revolution is its transformation to make good for the people, and this cannot be achieved without violence. The so-called world democratic giants of today have all udrgone political revolution, with its concomittant violence and sacrifice. The French Revolution (1789-1799), was not without violence and positive transformation. Over 40,000 thousnad innocent lives were lost in this period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France. Today, this radical change has paid off, and France has a lasting institutionalised democracy. For Americans to get to where they are today, with a black president which they never dreamt of, there was a rebellion and political upheaval during the last half othe 18th century, in which the colonies overthrew the governance of the British empire and rejected the monarchy. This, (The American revolution) was also not without violence , which is the major characteristics of all revolutions Thousands of lives were lost and an immesurable number of properties were destroyed. Today, the American democracy, achieved after the revolution, is the most entrenched in the world. Russia, Germany and other European economic giants, all went through political revolution and positive defiance, AND THEY ALL GIVE MONUMENTAL PRAISS AND EXALTATION TO THOSE WHO MADE THESE POSSIBLE.

Ghana's revolution, spearheaded by J.J RAWLINGS has not been different from the world revolutions. He emerged from no where as a junior officer, who could not control his tender heart over social injustices and the total denial and alienation of the people, after the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkruma, by the UP/NPP sponsored military junta. Successive regimes after the 1966 coup supervised the total collapse of the country. Nkruma's social democratic ideals, his industrialisatn and educcational projects and programs were all allowed to decay by his UP/PP/NPP enemies, while they enrich themselves and their families. People had to walk hundreds of miles away to seek medical care which was not available. As a results of the destruction and demonisation of everything KWAME NKRUMA, by his UP/PP/NPP successors, series of military coups emerged from here and there, yet none of them was able to restore decency, and bring the real meaning of revolution to transform Ghana. J.J R AWLINGS was touched by the cries, hunger and the suffering of the people, especially the ordinary people who could not afford a ball of kenkey, and the majority in the rural and remote areas. His emergence , after the 1979 coup, led by Boakye Gyan, and chaired him( Rawlings), sent a spontaneous jubilation to the people throughout the country, with some calling him JUNIOR JESUS, and others THE SAVIOR. His mission was to clear the mess and the rott in the system, and to resurrect the collapsed industries. Tax evasion , bribery and corruption and the entrenchment of the few in government , had been the order of the day, thereby crippling the economy and creating hardships and sufferings, and totally denying the people of any human right. He called for radical and pragnmatic change and transformation with his revolution. The second coming of Rawlings was much anticipated, and this time too he was hailed and received by most Ghanaians , if not all. Most of those who call themseves the latter day saints ( THE UP/NPP) joined his revolution, notably His Ex J.A Kuffour, the immediate past president . This time, his revolution was geared towrads a lasting democratisation of Ghana, and it took him 11 years (1981-1992) , through rain and sunhine, with intermittent coup attempts, to be able to push his social democratic principles, akin to that of Dr. Kwame Nkruma, to the people. Like every other revolution, Rawlings revolution was not without violence, suffering and sacrifice.Lost of lives, distructions and protests were recorded. RAWLINGS resigned from his active military duty , formed a political party and contested the multi party democratic election in 1992. He won massively to become the first president of the 4th republic of Ghana. That was the time JJ RAWLINGS PLANTED THE TREE OF MODERN DEMOCRACY IN GHANA.

Ideologically, Rawlings' REVOLUTION did not defer from his 8 year DEOMCRATIC rule, The PNDC had by that time laid all the necessary developmental infrastructures, focusing on the ordinary rural people. With his GREEN REVOLUTION, he had open up the hinterlands with roads, highways and electricity . Rawlings' belief in social democracy, a as against the elitist , opulent quasi-democracy of the Danqua-Busias, made him THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE, HE IS ADORED , HONORED AND CHERISHED BY MANY, and outside Ghana J.J RAWLINGS INSPIRES ALL , many African countries of today need a JJ RAWLINGS. After 4 years in office, the poeple in a majority poll extended his mandate . But, Rawlings did not, and does not see DEMOCRACY as just going to polls , elect a government, for the government to lord you over. RAWLINGS' DEMOCRACY IS A SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC SYTEMONE WHERE POWER BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE, WHERE SOCIAL AND JUDICIAL JUSTICE SYSYTEM OPERATES FREELY AND INDEPENDENTLY., where resources and developments are distributed fairly, and where state properties are protected against pilfering and looting. To him "DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT AND NEED, NOT ABOUT WHAT THE RULERS THINK THE PEOPLE WANT OR NEED".

You can choose to hate or love Rawlings (he is loved by many though), his legacy transcends the borders of Ghana. He has indeed done what no living politician in Ghana and Africa has done for his country. The tree of MODERN DEMOICRACY HE PLANTED , is now bearing fruit, and there is no way JJ RAWLINGS , would leave the political scene of Ghana for the thieves to steal the fruits. Untill his death, no amount of intimidation could silence JJ RAWLINGS, THE FATHER OF MODERN DEMOCRACY IN GHANA.

NANA BOADAA kkingofkings@excite.com