Former President Jerry John Rawlings has described the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as one that lacks “political sensitivity” — a shortcoming he says makes them lose sight of the wishes of the Ghanaian electorate.
He said the inability of the hierarchy to gauge political atmosphere in constituencies made them often support persons who are not loved by the electorate.
He said the outcomes of such decisions had eventually led to abysmal performance and loss of seats during elections.
“If you have any political sense, straight away, call your man to step aside and give it to the man whom the people have shown such warmth. And when I had such problems, I tell the people’s favourite to go and stand as independent candidate. If not, we will lose the seat to the opposition,” he said.
Mr. Rawlings, who was speaking to executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at his office in Accra on Thursday, said even though he had made a similar assertion at a recent gathering of the NDC in Kumasi, no media outlet captured the remarks in their reportage.
He said, “This goes to show how influenced the media landscape has become by elites in societies who use money to determine what the media agenda of the day should be.”
The former President tasked the leadership of GJA to put up what he called a fight of positive defiance to weed out “mercenaries” in the landscape who thwart justice by concealing the truth.
“Without truth, we can’t develop, we can’t move ahead and development will be stunted; it will be extremely expensive and idealism will be partially crucified,” he stressed.
Besides, he called for the safety and protection of journalists by all stakeholders, and encouraged journalists to be discerning enough to make informed judgements by saying that “you cannot afford not to know enough; you have to know it all”.
“You have no idea as to the kind of joy and satisfaction you give to people when they can read a line of truth,” he added.
The GJA delegation, which was led by its President Affail Monney, paid a courtesy call on the former Head of State to invite him to its upcoming awards ceremony which climaxes the GJA 70th anniversary celebration held under the theme: “Democracy, freedom and independence of the media in Ghana: 70 years of GJA’s contribution”.
The 24th edition of the awards ceremony is set to take place in Accra on November 23, 2019.
Source: Daily Guide
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WHAT AT ALL IS WRONG WITH RAWLINGS? KUFOUR WILL NOT DO THAT TO THE NPP NO MATER WHAT. AND NANA ADDO IS NOT HELPING MATTERS. RAWLINGS KEEPS ON ABUSING KUFOUR AND NANA IS QUIET. RAWLINGS SHOULD KNOW THAT HE IS NOT GOD. WHAT HE IS DOING TO HIS PARTY IF VERY BAD I KNOW HE WILL NOT TAKE IT IF ITS DONE TO HIM. HE BEAT ARKAAH WHO WAS HIS VICE PRESIDENT IN THE CASTLE BECOURSE HE SAYS ARKAAH CAN NOT BE IN THE NDC AND CRITICISE IT SO HE SHOULD JUMP OUT. NOW HE CLAIMS HE IS STILL IN THE NDC AND ANY OPPORTUNITY HE GETS HE WILL DESTROY HIS OWN PARTY KNOWING VERY WELL WE ARE ENTERING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR AND THE NPP ARE VERY HAPPY. KUFOUR WILL NEVER DO THAT AND THAT IS PURE MATURITY RAWLINGS HAS LOST THE RESPECT HE HAD IN THE NDC AM SURE OF THAT. ALL BECOURSE HE IS MADE A REFUSE AMBASSADOR BY THE NPP AND HE IS BEING SENT BY NANA ADDO TO REPRESENT HIM AT STATE FUNERALS. I CANT THINK FAR.
We beg you give us some peace of mind.
Fendal, like the way your mother has tamed your ***barred word*** father wai
This man koraa what is he looking for from the NDC? Npp is the party in power now but any time he gets the opportunity to discuss issues of the states he leaves the government in power off the hook and criticizes NDC that is in opposition. What sane person does that? The most annoying part of the while issue is that, he claims to be the founder of the party. How on earth will a founder treats his party this way, to the extent of saying they cannot win power in 2020. And for fear of him, the leadership of the NDC hadn't sacked him from the party. The man is irrelevant in the party, so sacking him will be a good riddance. He has proven clearly that he is in bed with nana addo, so what do you lose dismissing such an unfaithful man.
The Red Ahab has been tamed by the black Jezeebel
If Rawlings of all persons can reserve to keep his own counsel to come out to say what he said, then, NDC as a political party should take his sayings in good faith and more seriously. Hurling insult at him is the most irresponsible thing NDC can do. That, notwithstanding, will not go any way longer to prove its political insensitivity the former President is rightly talking about.
JJ is 'here and there' all the time. Nobody seems to understand him except himself.
The man just shares a view abt the party he formed. He didn't insult anybody so where from these insults on his person and family? If any of u have ya family members as ex pres,u will appreciate and them. Continue to insult him and see where it ends the NDC.some of you are just untrained and uncivilized. Uncultured id..ts
Dis Guy has lost everything including de small respect dat he has can't someone advise him dat he is making uselessssssss noise does he understand de subject he is talking about please Mr rawlings nobody listen to u anymore because u are irrevant in de political dynamics of today get it please your time has past we are not in de era of culture of silence please Mr grow up because u are fast becoming a noise maker
I Like this man, always ready to say what he thinks and feel regardless of what people will say, he’s not a hypocr!te, you can continue to insult him at detriment of our beloved party: we are the same people who would beg him to join the campaign train during election, we have such a charismatic and influential personality Rawlings, instead of us to use him to achieve the very aim of the party, that is winning elections, we are here insulting and vilifying him, Hmmm the day of reckoning is not far from us, we shall see those who would start trooping to his house when the going gets tough.!rest my case