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Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged members of the opposition Democratic National Congress (NDC) to preserve the legacy of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
He said that the NDC, as a party born from the events of the December 31 Revolution, had a duty to uphold former President Rawlings’ principles of probity and responsibility, as part of its national life and daily practice.
Mr. Mahama made the appeal on Thursday in Accra in celebration of the 39th anniversary of the December 31 Revolution on the theme “Sustaining the achievements of the December 31 Revolution: The Legacy of Former President Rawlings.”
Other speakers at the event include Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, NDC National President; Mr. Dan Abodakpi, former Minister of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, former Defense Minister and Mrs. Agnes Momo Lartey, Member of Parliament elected by Krowor.
The ceremony was attended by senior NDC officials such as Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, former Speaker of Parliament.
Mahama said that the flame the late former president lit in 1981, which continued to burn for 39 years, would burn forever.
“The revolution was not perfect, since we know that every human event is never perfect. Like any human being, our founder, leader of the Revolution, President Rawlings, was not perfect, ”he said.
But the sum of what he did on earth, especially from the age of 33 when he burst onto the political scene in Ghana and the sum of the events of the Revolution of December 31 represent a kind of atonement for the evils of the past. ”.
He said that the revolution therefore bequeaths to Ghanaians the principle of holding those charged with public responsibility accountable, as sovereignty resides with the people.
He pointed out that the revolution also bequeaths to Ghanaians a growing economy that ensured stability for the progress of our country over the years; and that also, more importantly, bequeathing to the Ghanaians a constitution that was drawn up by the common people of this country.
He said it was due to the writing of the constitution by ordinary Ghanaians such as butchers, dressmakers, mechanics, teachers, farmers and fishermen; that had made the supreme law of the land the most enduring constitution in Ghana’s history.
He said that the late former president, while alive, declared that he did not want monuments and statues to be erected in his honor, but rather wanted to be remembered in the hearts of men.
“And I think the only vehicle; That is the best vehicle that can ensure that it is remembered in the hearts of men is the vehicle of the political party that he founded and that is the NDC. This is the reason why we must commit ourselves to the cause of the NDC Party, ”he said.
“I know that like every human institution, we may have our disagreement but let us have and put as a focus for all that protecting the revolutionary origins of our Party and the legacy of our founder is the main objective that we all want to achieve.
“I daresay no one can fill Jerry Rawlings’ shoes. No one can encapsulate the charisma, political wit and courage exhibited by our late founder. ”
“And therefore I urge that we must re-commit ourselves to this 39th anniversary, that we will all work together and that even when we have differences of opinion, we will resolve them in ways that do not jeopardize the future of our Party,” said Mr. Mahama said.
He said: “And that will continue to work together as a collective (family) to ensure that the memories of those who gave their lives for our fourth Republican constitution never fade.”
Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said that the NDC was not a Party that burned markets but that it was the Party that built most of the markets across the country.
He noted that the Party would declare a three-day fast and prayers to support his legal team, which was handling his petition for a Presidential Election before the Supreme Court.
— GNA
