Rawlings and Abacha's blood money

Read Article

Comments (15)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (15)

abdulazeez 9 years ago

12/11/1998
>From the Post Express
Category: News
Date of Article: 11/08/98

Rawlings Named in Gwarzo's N1.3b Scandal

SOURCES close to the investigation of Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, former national
security adviser to th ...
read full comment

12/11/1998
>From the Post Express
Category: News
Date of Article: 11/08/98

Rawlings Named in Gwarzo's N1.3b Scandal

SOURCES close to the investigation of Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, former national
security adviser to the late head of state, General Sani Abacha, indicate that
Ghana's President, Jerry John Rawlings allegedly personally benefitted from a
$5 million "sleaze" money from the late Nigerian dictator.
The Ghanaian leader, according to Nigerian pro-democracy forces who have
stumbled upon the sensational news, is alleged to have personally received the
amount from Abacha to serve his cause in the international community at the
time of the Nigeria leader's pariah status. The money is alleged to have been
delivered by Gwarzo in November 1996.
Prominent among some West African leaders who were allegedly paid to play the
spokesman for the late Nigerian dictator was Rawlings whose uncompromising and
tenacious pursuit of Abacha's cause and defence of his interest at the height
of his ostracy caused by international anger over the execution of Ken Saro-
Wiwa and others, bewildered many people in Ghana and the world at large.
It was largely on account of Ghana's intervention at the Commonwealth summit
in Auckland that Abacha's regime was saved from being slapped with sanctions
by that group. At the last Commonwealth conference in Edinburgh, such was the
vehemence with which Rawlings defended the late Nigerian leader that he was
said to have incurred the wrath of British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who
cautioned him against pushing his luck too fast and too far.
On hearing about the sudden death of his close friend and apparent benefactor,
the Ghanaian leader flew to Kano in Nigeria where he openly wept over Abacha's
grave. Yet not even death seems to have abrogated the alleged underhand
contract between the two persons.
Speaking in South Africa on his recent trip, Rawlings was as usual, the
unshaken advocate of the Abacha cause, claiming that he took power in Nigeria
in November 1993 to foil an anti-people deal between former Nigerian military
ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida who he labelled a "corrupt military
dictator," and Chief Ernest Shonekan. who, he said, hardly represented the
interests of the people.
In an interview with the Pan-African News Agency (PANA) during which he never
once condemned the late Abacha, claiming "Abacha must have had a good reason
for doing what he did," Rawlings even attempted to credit his former friend
with the recent release by General Abdulsalami Abubakar of scores of political
prisoners detained by Abacha. He even went on to the preposterous extent of
claiming that the late dictator in a one-to-one discussion with him over
lunch, had planned to release his arch-political rival, the late Chief Moshood
Abiola from detention!
In recently opening, the conference of West African first ladies in Accra
which was the brainchild of the late Abacha's wife, Maryam, and was part of
the agenda of glorification and image-building for the dead dictator, Rawlings
must have been performing a duty for which he was allegedly paid years ago.
Apparently taking cues from the cases of ex-dictators, the late Ferdinand
Marcos of Philippines and Zaire's Mobutu Sese Seko, Nigerian pro-democracy
forces are said to be exploring legal avenues in Ghana and other West African
countries to retrieve the alleged "sleaze" monies, clearly stolen from the
Nigerian tax payer.
Gwarzo has recently been in the news for his role in the alleged withdrawal of
$2.45 billion from the Nigerian Central Bank for covert activities on the late
Abacha's orders.
Rawlings has so far managed to distance himself from the numerous cases of
corruption among his men which have combined to earn Ghana the unenviable
title of the sixth most corrupt nation in the world.
If the allegation emerging from the Nigerian pro-democracy movement against
him eventually sticks, Rawlings' action would go down in history as an
unprecedented act of corruption by a Ghanaian head of state.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Azumah Nelson 9 years ago

Ghanaians should be grateful. Rawlings didn't steal any money from you sorrowful Ghanaians

Ghanaians should be grateful. Rawlings didn't steal any money from you sorrowful Ghanaians
Rastafara"I" 9 years ago

His confession should enough for him to face firing squad like he did to Kutu, Afrifa, Amedome and Kotey....Officers he shot out of jealousy...

Amedome was shot for a bank loan...Rawlings was mad and jealous because he h ...
read full comment

His confession should enough for him to face firing squad like he did to Kutu, Afrifa, Amedome and Kotey....Officers he shot out of jealousy...

Amedome was shot for a bank loan...Rawlings was mad and jealous because he had to eat yoko gari while some officers could get loans....

He killed them so that he could get $2M bribe!
He should be riddled to 2 million bullets!
Ghana ho do nti 9 years ago

Now the question is, if it's not $5M but $2M, where is the money? Did it end up at BOG or in someone's pocket? This is my only question for now, Papa J. Hmm, Prez. Rawlings has shouted loudily about heads of state who are cor ...
read full comment

Now the question is, if it's not $5M but $2M, where is the money? Did it end up at BOG or in someone's pocket? This is my only question for now, Papa J. Hmm, Prez. Rawlings has shouted loudily about heads of state who are corrupt. Now, I'm so confused about all the things he said about corrupt leaders. Ei, Ewiase!!!!
Kwaku Boakye Danquah 9 years ago

Never has a more straightforward, lucid, enlightening, and damning condemnation of a wholly reprobate character been ever written.
Thank you, Sir.
I couldn't have written it better.

Never has a more straightforward, lucid, enlightening, and damning condemnation of a wholly reprobate character been ever written.
Thank you, Sir.
I couldn't have written it better.
Plasma Kote 9 years ago

He built a hotel with it at Hohoe or JJ paid SCHOOL FEES with it.

He built a hotel with it at Hohoe or JJ paid SCHOOL FEES with it.
Plasma Kote 9 years ago

She knows everything, especially when it comes to DIRTY MONEY !!!!

She knows everything, especially when it comes to DIRTY MONEY !!!!
Moses Kenney N. 9 years ago

I wish he is still the President of GH. so corruption can at least be limited, which among his critics said he or she is perfect, we all humans ok

I wish he is still the President of GH. so corruption can at least be limited, which among his critics said he or she is perfect, we all humans ok
jj ba 9 years ago

Never knew this shout of probity and accountability mantra all this while has been nothing but a myth. Shame on u papa j

Never knew this shout of probity and accountability mantra all this while has been nothing but a myth. Shame on u papa j
Kofi adu 9 years ago

Coup in turkey foolish govt does business with a failed country. Now sums or will be forever

Coup in turkey foolish govt does business with a failed country. Now sums or will be forever

Ottawa 9 years ago

I have read this Rawlings so call interview if not confession from different reporters and have come out with my own conclusion: ex-president Rawlings needs a mental health physician right now if he is telling Africans that A ...
read full comment

I have read this Rawlings so call interview if not confession from different reporters and have come out with my own conclusion: ex-president Rawlings needs a mental health physician right now if he is telling Africans that Abacha in his days was a nationalist and a patriotic citizen of Nigeria. something is not right with his mind.
Zig 9 years ago

Why is Konadu Rawlings now quiet. After shouting about corruption she has now been exposed.Who knows other bribes she and her husband took. God is great

Why is Konadu Rawlings now quiet. After shouting about corruption she has now been exposed.Who knows other bribes she and her husband took. God is great
spartacus 9 years ago

Jj has been a bully and corrupt right from his teens so am not in the least surprised. If my memory serves me right jj recently suggested that lie detectors must be used in courts. Jj did u get 2 or 5 million?
Take a lie d ...
read full comment

Jj has been a bully and corrupt right from his teens so am not in the least surprised. If my memory serves me right jj recently suggested that lie detectors must be used in courts. Jj did u get 2 or 5 million?
Take a lie detector test. Period.
Jj talks too much. His family should muzzle him before he disgraces himself any further.
spartacus 9 years ago

Anyway jj should be lauded. Probity and accountability. He has been transparent by accepting he took the money. He should now be man enough to tell us how he spent it.
I only wish kuffour, Mpianim, tarzan and the other rasc ...
read full comment

Anyway jj should be lauded. Probity and accountability. He has been transparent by accepting he took the money. He should now be man enough to tell us how he spent it.
I only wish kuffour, Mpianim, tarzan and the other rascals will follow jj's lead
Akans Prophecies 9 years ago

Nigerians must reclaim their stolen money from rawlings. He stole their money and should refund it. A louper and also corrupt.

Nigerians must reclaim their stolen money from rawlings. He stole their money and should refund it. A louper and also corrupt.

15 Comments

Welcome,

SIGN IN

Welcome,

RESET PASSWORD

Hello,

Terms and conditions

REGISTER

Rawlings and Abacha's blood money

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (15)

Read Comments Comments (15)