“The devil we know is better than the Angel we never know” So greatly said by the wise men but not them that came from the East. For they saw the vision of the Messiah’s Birth and led by the Star to the Manger where he was lying.
“Ghana saw not any Star to brighten the name Nkrumah until death and now is Rawlings”
Ours for History.
“Long before Britain became an Empire, there was an Empire” Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Ghana’s Political History is a very rich one; hence all Ghanaians as we are take much pride in that richness of our History. From the old to the modern Ghana there is a lot to write about. Old Ghana was the first of the three Western Sudanese Empires and the modern Ghana the first in sub-Saharan African to attain Independence from colonial rule. Today’s Ghana did not go through the turbulence of the dictates of attaining Independence like others. Algeria, Zaire now DR of Congo, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique, Rhodesia now Zimbabwe, South Africa and many others walked the long journey of pulling the many strings before becoming Administrators of their own warehouses.
Except for the death of the three Ex-Service men and others on Feb. 28, 1948 during the Christiansburg Shootings, Ghana shed no much blood during her campaign for Independence. That was not because of the diligence of the fore bearers of our freedom struggle, rather it was because Ghanaians as a whole are humanly cautious of life. Until Dr. Kwame Nkrumah broke away from the main stream of the freedom struggle, everything was seemingly dangerous concerning the threat to lost of life. Nkrumah may have seen the loop holes in the cautious agitation for Independence and opted for the more radical to cut short the many human lives that could be lost which is normally always associated with all struggles. Very clever as he was, his breakaway saw not no more lost of human blood from the hands of the colonialist. Before Nkrumah was invited to add to the Freedom Struggle, the fore bearers of the Independence campaign were dancing with the colonialist hence no actual headway was being made. For Nkrumah to add radicalism and his eventual breakaway took much of the negotiating power from the Colonial Administrators that they reasoned to co-operate and set goals for Independence. By his breakaway, he also became the devil to those who invited him. Little did they know Nkrumah was the devil ordained to take Ghana out of bondage.
Lessons We Must Not Forget.
The radicalism that Nkrumah brought to bear on the Political arena at the time and for the Colonialist to reason and accept to co-operate saw a meaningful and none violent dialogue leading to Independence. It was after Independence that those who wanted power handed over to them and got it taken from them by Nkrumah became so furious and brought violence on the Ghanaian Nation. Events most of us are aware of and need not mention here. Only the toddlers of today will continue to dispute it. The saying goes, “Once bitten by a snake, one should fear the earth worm” The many assassination attempts on Nkrumah’s life soon after Independence changed his peaceful manner to that of pursuance of the enemy hence some faults were made on his part. He can’t and should not be blamed for that all. The 9/11 attack on America changed the world forever. America today is taking the war to the doorsteps of the haters. How did you find that?
The Saints After Nkrumah And The Devils Advent.
The Feb. 1966 coup was the worse thing that ever happened to Ghana yet the Gospels Praise songs is being sung to it by a particular group in the Country. This same group continues to condemn in all terms events of Jan 13 1972, June 4 1979 and Dec. 31 1981. The Kotoka /Afrifa junta opened the flood gates of all coups in Ghana. As it turned out to be, the hatred of the coup plotters of Nkrumah made them to indulge in all manners of lies and malicious propagandas to criminalize the deeds of the great Osagyefo. They promised the best for Ghana and Ghanaians, yet they abandoned, stopped, cancelled or eliminated all the good ideas put in place for Ghana by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The National Orientation program in the form of the Young Pioneers and other organs of the Party were made to live in fear as cast outs. I really wish if the Workers Brigade movement was retained and encouraged, it would have given Ghana a much needed benefit. The hell of that not being done saw the challenge of Yeboah and Arthur that was contained but for Kotoka to be made the sacrificial lamb.
The 1969 maneuvered elections brought the Progress Party and Busia to power to continue his hatred for Nkrumah. As a group started to agitate for the return of Nkrumah, a law was rushed through Parliament over night to outlaw and made everything criminal even a mere mention of Nkrumah’s name. Not so long Busia forgot that his fight for Nkrumah’s overthrow will befall him also. And so soon that voice of bringing Ghana those good tidings was heard on the radio in the early morning of January13 1972. Acheampong brought home the Angels message of hope. He was to be a wolf in the sheep’s skin. Many Coup plots were uncovered against him and offenders were handed many years in prison terms by the Tribunals, Acheampong’s human face. However, the voices of decent never ceased murmuring for change. SMC 2 took that peaceful turn but for another trick until May 15 1979 when the actual crusader of change made his impact. The explanation of his radical intends caught the ears of the Ghanaian people. A people waken to understand that after all, the devil may always not be wrong.
How His Words Affected Ghanaians.
I can tell you how I struggled to come to terms with that early morning news of the attempt (uprising) to overthrow SMC 2 considering the situation in which we were at the time. SMC 2 drew out plans to handover power to civilians. No one expected any disruption (at least not militarily) of those plans. So when the attempted uprising news was reading on the Broadcast waves, we all took it very offensive. Little did we imagine that the crusader’s call was for the better and his outburst at the Tribunal which was hurriedly set up to try those involved opened our understandings more and all started to ask why he did not succeed? From a near zero acceptance rose over 90%. That gave the Armed Forces in general to read that whatever action they may take similar to that of him will be accepted by the population.
The Devils We Know.
No human who pretends and appears in an Angel form will last that long or have the courage and strength to stand up to the wrongs in our societies. When that Angel does stand against those wrongs, he will be doing so in false pretences. It is only the devil that can, because he equally feels those wrongs unlike the angel (earthly) who enjoys in it. Those devils many times are identified once or twice before their final assault. Fidel Castro, the evil in America’s flesh was once arrested in a push to overthrow his Government, tried and sentenced but pardoned to be exiled in Mexico. He later returned to successfully overthrow that same government and his group ruling for decades now. Hugo Chavez once plotted against his government was arrested tried and jailed. He is now the unchallengeable and legitimate ruler of his country. Many attempts to oust him failed. Nelson Mandela, we all know served 27 years for being a freedom activist but was released to become the undisputable President of Apartheid free South Africa. Of course our Osagyefo Dr, Kwame Nkrumah was of no exception. He was in Prison when he won the elections to become the Leader of Government Business later Prime Minister and President, the list continues.
Jerry John Rawlings A Devil?
The matter of fact is that, like others, Jerry’s ascendance to leadership was never portrayed as that of a Saint who came to take Ghana out of her woes. He made it clear he was to take Ghana to another level which no other could do. That means going it the harder way. He made it clear also that, the transformation he was embarking upon will be very tough and painful that no one should underrate his intentions. Failure to do so, as we all heard him say will be to make him self available to the stakes at Teshie for the bullets. These are usually the sort of words from his type of guys
Rawlings’ three times duty calls did not proclaim any Redemption or Liberation but made clear it was a period to revolve the elution. Which message the masses got much understanding with. All attempts to cut short his plans failed as in the case of all mentioned earlier. He was of no exception as he was also on trial for his first push and was due to be executed when judgment is delivered. Here Gods’ given right to the Devil we know stood higher than the Angels we don’t know. All instances referred to earlier in this article saw the lost of many lives hence Rawlings episode will be of no difference especially when his actions were declared right against wrong. Jerry piloted the ship of Ghana for almost 20 years more than any single Ghanaian leader; hand over power voluntarily to the opposite of his political divide without fear. He lives in the country to openly participate in the political process of today’s Ghana. He has many times challenged all including the International Security Organs that whoever has any evidence of wrong doings (corruption) against him (not the human rights excesses) which he has many times apologized for should come forward. It is very disheartening to read many comments and write-ups as to how corrupt he Rawlings is without anyone coming forward to open the books to prove it.
Conclusion
No one is open to be loved by all but we must be realistic in such dislikes and hates. The truth is that “No prophet is liked in his own home” Says the Good Book. Nkrumah was the most hated in his time. Today after death he is the most admired or revered. Like Nkrumah, so it is that many things that Rawlings said and continues to say are either proven right or seen to be. For these, there are some particular people who made it their business to always find something bad in the name Jerry John Rawlings to say or write about that will make him (Jerry) look more the devil he is to the world. Such like Kwaku Baaku, Gina Blay and Ochere Darko. They can’t get a night’s sleep should them finding nothing bad out of Rawlings to write about. Don’t forget our learned Community College Professor Dr. Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe’s anti Rawlings never ending sermons and his wallowing to remove that Rawlings’ choker without success. Much more, NPP as a whole from the upper tier to the least of the ordinary foot soldier, continue daily to lay blames on Rawlings as to how he made it too hot for them to effectively load off many the Ghana head gears even though it was very simple to extinguish those flames by performing better. To me, the NPP’s never stopping Rawlings this, P/NDC that, June 4 was, horn blowing is making no sense. In conclusion, I can not help but to ask why the world adores the name Jerry John Rawlings but the name keeps mounting confusion among Ghanaians whenever it comes up for mentioning? Ghana needs your answers.
Habel Awuku Dadoto Japan,
The Author was a columnist of the now defunct "OASIS JAPAN" an International African magazine He is presently a Freelance Journalist. Views and comments are welcome
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