The NDC marked its 25th anniversary with a rally in Ashiaman, one of its strongholds
The evolution route of NDC into Ghanaian politics is a justification
of what is happening in the party at the moment. The NDC evolved from
a dictatorial AFRC to a totalitarian PNDC and finally adjusted to the
democratic praises of the 1990's.
Quoting Professor Mike Oquaye "The June 4th 1979 revolution which
brought in the AFRC, was a rebellion junior officers and other ranks
who claimed that it would be unjust for their superior officers of the
SMC II to quietly hand over power to the civilian government without
accounting for the stewardship which they claimed had brought the
Armed Forces into grave disrepute.
This led to the bloody public executions of retired and continuing top military rulers after reckless midnight trials - a trial of blood on the hands of men like Rawlings, Boakye Gyan and other members of the AFRC. It was an era of looting, pillage, jail breaking masterminded by the regime itself, public humiliation of women and the genesis of gross indiscipline in
the Ghanaian body politic".
The AFRC-PNDC which claimed to bridge the gap between the rich and the
poor hence choosing the motto " Probity and Accountability" , ended up
enriching the members of the revolution from the nation's coffers
while they rendered the flourishing Ghanaian businessmen poor and the
loud in societies became muted through humiliations by military men of
the revolution.
The Ghanaian economy faced massive retrogression under the reign of
PNDC to the end of the two terms rule of Rawlings. One will not be
wrong to attribute the woes of the Ghanaian economy to the 19 years
reign of J. J. Rawlings - the founder of the NDC. It was under
Rawlings stewardship that most of the State Corporations were sold for
selfish gain of Rawlings himself and his cronies.
Nsawam Cannery, GIHOC, Paulugu Tomato Factory, STC, Black Star Line
Shipping, Jute Factory, Ghana Airway, Continental Hotels, GNTC, West
African Mills, Akasanoma, State Hotels, Ghana Food Distribution
Corporation, to mention few, were kept on divestiture and sold among
themselves.
The legacy of Rawlings stewardship for the nearly 20 years is " a
legacy of killing local businesses and forcing Ghanaians to consume
foreign products". Ghanaian businessmen suffered severe humiliations,
some had their investments seized while some were chased on exile. Mr.
Siaw - a renowned Ghanaian businessman who established the Tata
Brewery was chased on exile and Rawlings sold his company to Guinness
Ghana Breweries Limited (owned by foreigners).
Mr. Benjamin Amponsah Mensah popularly known as B. A. Mensah who
established the international Tobacco Company at North Kaneshie had
his company seized by Rawlings. Even the current police hospital was a
property of one Mr. Yaw Boakye - his private hospital.
Rawlings, aside collapsing private business initiative, over 60
State-Owned companies were placed on divestiture and finally sold them
to himself and his cronies.
Prior to the promulgation of the 1992 constitution, the sons and
daughters of the revolution sorted to metamorphosed the traditional
name of the military rule of Rawlings to fit the contemporary
political code hence they erased the alphabet "P" leaving the NDC. The
party born out of revolution had its name changed but its features
remained.
The NDC committed itself to the Communist Inferior Tactics blended
with physical and psychological brutalities to govern Ghana from 1992
to 2001 when they lost elections to Kuffour led NPP government.
Only God knows the number of Ghanaians who vanished between under the
reign of PNDC and Rawlings NDC.
Rawlings executed Real Admiral Amedome and Roger Felli for taking a
Bank loan of ¢50,000. This same "Saint" accepted a gift of US$5
million for no work done from Abacha - former Nigerian President. What
is the justification that Rawlings - the founder of NDC is not
corrupt?
Rawlings seized peoples companies and property on grounds of tax
evasion and later sold them to himself, his wife and his friends. Yet,
the NDC is crying and tagging the EOCO summons of Ibrahim Mahama - the
brother of former president John Mahama who evaded taxes to the sum of
Gh¢12 million and SSNIT contributions of Gh¢1 million during the reign
of his brother as "witch hunting". If there is no witch, there
wouldn't be hunting.
Yes, I agree with ex president Kuffour that corruption started from
the days of Adam. Yet, corruption did not develop " sharp teeth" until
NDC erupted in Ghanaian politics.
The NDC took advantage of the inactive of the late J. E. A. Mills to
make shady deals.
John Mahama presided over corruption. It was under the reign of NDC
that Ibrahim Mahama collapsed Merchant Bank. If Amedome and Felli
could be executed for taking a loan of ¢50,000 then, what should be
done to a man who took a loan of Gh¢57 million from Merchant Bank
which eventually led to the collapse of the State Bank?
What should be done to Woyome who defrauded the State of Gh¢51.2 million?
What should be done to the YEA directors who collaborated to squander
over Gh¢52 million?
What should be done to the NDC gang who collaborated to share among
themselves US$1 million in the name of NCA contract?
What should be done to the Boss of Ghana Standard Authority who is
alleged to have squandered US$1.2 million?
Well, I leave it for the coming Independent State Prosecutor to deal with that.
The NDC is the main cause of Ghana's developmental backwardness and
Ghanaians should never dream of voting the NDC to power again. Just as
Hon. Martin Amidu puts it "May God never give us a corrupt leader like
Mahama again".
The 25th anniversary of NDC is a celebration of people who never
thought they could be rich but have been rich due to the opportunity
they got to come near to the nation's coffers.
The NDC has no memento in Ghana's politics other than the pain in
peoples mind. If any serious party had gotten the opportunity to rule
Ghana like the 19 years of Rawlings and the 8 years of Mills-Mahama,
Ghana would have been on the competitive track of the international
development marathon.
May God grant NDC permanent seat in opposition.
Long live Ghana.
Nana Ofori Kissi Ratina
Copyright © 1994 - 2024 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
