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Former President of Ghana and Founder of the ruing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, have for the first time in his life, praised the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for always coming to his aid when he is maltreated by his own party members. Since the start of democratic dispensation, which paved way for multi-party system, Mr. Rawlings has never ceased to insult and castigate members of the New Patriotic Party. But in an uncharacteristic fashion, Mr. Rawlings over the weekend said, he wondered why the leadership of the Party he founded based on timeless values and principle will deliberately try to denigrate him to the extent that the opposition NPP has had to come to his defence. He was speaking at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon to climax the annual SRC Week Celebrations. In what appears to be a reaction to the recent �barking dogs� comments made by the NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the former President philosophically said, �if you treat people like dogs, be surprised if they�re not barking�. In welcoming back Dr. Obed Asamoah and the defunct DFP back into the NDC fold, Asiedu Nketia remarked that �I would�ve been surprised if you didn�t return to the NDC because the barking dogs that chased you out of the NDC have themselves been eliminated�. Many political observers have attributed his comments to the NDC founder who has maintained his criticism of the Mills government for what he considers their refusal to pursue the �moral mandate� of the people of Ghana. At the student forum, also attended by Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, former First Lady, President Rawlings lamented the refusal of the Mills administration to investigate and correct crimes under the previous regime. He wondered why the leadership of the party he founded based on timeless values and principles will deliberately try to denigrate him to the extent that the opposition NPP has had to come to his defence. Former President Rawlings said he is not surprised at the Mills� government�s bad treatment of him and his family because from day one President Mills announced to him that �I have been advised to let things be�, a position he (J.J) has disagreed with. �I regret that our true democracy which started in 1981 (not 1992 which only brought about constitutional rule) is rolling backwards,� the former President concluded.