Ghana, Rotten state: "Let’s speak up.... and demand better standards..." – Rawlings

In a speech to mark the 37th anniversary of the June 4 uprising, Jerry John Rawlings, former President has lashed out at leadership and decried the lack of neutrality and objectivity within the judiciary and the security service. Mr. Rawlings described Ghana’s status quo as nothing short of a rotten state pregnant with dishonesty and exploitation.
Mr. Rawlings, who was the Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) also charged at those who pretend not to recognize what led to the bloody June 4 uprising, describing it as a justifiable intervention and an expression of rage against corruption and the rape of the country by some political and military leaders.

 “As we mark the 37th Anniversary of June 4th, I note with pain and anguish that the poisonous and agitated environment, the attitude of leaders, the unprecedented level of dishonesty, exploitation, the abuse and misuse of the Judiciary and the Security Agencies, and the arrogance of appointed and elected Officials have returned,” President Rawlings fired.

All hope was not lost, he indicated, as he called on the nation to retrace its steps without expecting a miracle overnight devoid of the necessary action. “It can never be too late to reverse the rot and re-embrace the ideals that took our country to the enviable levels to which we took it.

 “But you and I should not sit idle and expect a miracle. Let’s speak up, let us set an example with the manner in which we comport ourselves in all aspects of our lives and let us demand even better standards from our leaders at all levels.”

 Former President Rawlings had earlier on warned: “Let us not be so dishonest, so unethical, so immoral as to pretend we didn’t know what brought about 1966, what brought about 1972 and what brought about June 4 and the subsequent follow up, 31st December.

“June 4th, is therefore not about me! It is rather the collective action and expression of a people when they cry out, rise up and rightfully demand proper Governance, Accountability, Probity, Justice and Respect from those who are supposed to govern them! “

The Founder of the NDC was critical of those who were part of the revolution but who today, hiding under the cloak of democracy prefer to label him the errant one. “Today those who have benefited from the sweat of the people have become lords over them and feel detached from the reality of the level of deprivation at the grassroots,” he said.

Wreaths were laid in memory of the fallen heroes by Dr. Kwame Ampofo, representing the people of Ghana, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, representing the Security Services, Chief Inspector Uget Bawa on behalf of the Cadre Corps, Nii Dodoo Nsaki I, Otublohum Mantse and Acting President of the Ga Traditional Council on behalf of Traditional Rulers, Mr. Napoleon Harrison and Nii Djamlodjei VI on behalf of Farmers of Fishermen and Ms. Sylvia Davordzi on behalf of the youth