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Speaking at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Revolution Square in Accra Thursday morning to mark the 34th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution, the former President said corruption, greed and selfishness was the order of the day in present day Ghana and that it was only through re-igniting the spirit of fighting corruption that Ghana could be able to reach its destination.

“From what I can see, it appears that, the colour of this democracy is very different from the power of democracy we knew from 1982 to 1992 and also very different from the colour of the democracy we knew from the constitutional period of 1992 to 2000.”

According to the former President, “the colour of the democracy especially from the year 2000 appears to lack the will, the capacity and the ability to fight corruption.”

The former President who was speaking after lighting the perpetual flame at the yearly ritual and comparing the June 4th and December 31st revolts and revolutions to present day Ghana he said, “the colour of those revolutions contained a strong sense of justice, truthfulness and freedom and the spirit of defiance.”

“It seems a little too different from what we used to know from the spirit of defiance that could contain, the greed and selfishness. This has given way to so much corruption and pain in this country.”

President Rawlings said the time has come for ”us to start looking at those who profited from the change of the colour starting from 2000.”

He said the significance of the 31st revolution should never be lost and that it should serve as a constant reminder of what led to the revolt of June 4, 1979 and the 31st December 1981 revolution.

“We should be asking ourselves that what happened especially from the year 2000.”

The Otublohum Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II who had earlier laid a wreath on behalf of all traditional leaders said the revolution gave birth to democracy. He prayed for peace and unity and hoped the peace will prevail as a beacon for Africa.

Aside Nii Dodoo Nsaki, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Ghana. Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the security services and the cadre corps.

Cadres, the security agencies, NDC supporters, Ministers of State and a host of sympathisers attended the ceremony at the Revolutionary Square, opposite the Flagstaff house.