Rawlings Is Not God – Kufuor Returns Fire

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has replied his colleague former leader, Jerry John Rawlings, over what he described as very damning and unpalatable comments the latter made recently.

He pointed out that he (Rawlings) is not God to determine who should go to heaven and who should go to hell.

Mr. Rawlings, who was once a military ruler, had called two of his successors, Mr. Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama, ‘evil’ and ‘rogue’ respectively at a meeting with some chiefs from the Volta Region.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) founder appeared to run down his immediate successor (Mr. Kufuor) and his own NDC party member Mr. Mahama, in the presence of chiefs and elders from Mepe who had called on him to formally invite him to the final funeral rites of Mamaga Awusi Sreku II, queen mother of the Mepe Traditional Area.

Mr. Rawlings’ office later released a statement apologizing to his former colleagues for his ‘inappropriate’ comments.

“The former President apologises to former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama for the choice of words. He deems the words as inappropriate and withdraws them,” Kobina Andoh Amoakwa of the Communications Directorate of the Office of Jerry John Rawlings, stated.

However, Mr. Kufuor has not taken issues lightly and has responded equally to Mr. Rawlings’ utterances.

“The attention of former President John Agyekum Kufuor has been drawn to the publication of a very damning and unpalatable diatribe about him by former President Jerry John Rawlings and his (Rawlings’) subsequent withdrawal and apology for same in the last few days,” Dr. Kwabena Osei-Adubofour, Senior Aide to ex-President Kufuor, maintained in a statement yesterday.

The statement indicated, “However, despite the fact that President Kufuor accepts the apology, he wishes to make it clear that he has never divested any state property to himself or his family members.

“All the divestiture of state properties and enterprises that took place during his tenure in office was done legally and according to laid-down procedures, rules and regulations, and to the utmost benefit of the people of Ghana.”

The statement further stressed, “President Kufuor never tried to unduly influence the promotion or appointment into the security services, more so, based on tribe. Emphatically, in his government policies, he never used tribalism in serving the regions and tribes of Ghana. As to Heaven, it is only God, who decides who goes there or not.”

To another claim by Mr Rawlings, the statement asserted, “Finally, as to the creation of the medal of the ‘Order of the Black Star and Eagles of Ghana,’ President Kufuor believes that it’s the prerogative of the president of the state to make such a creation; and he as such did so as the exclusive title of presidents when they attain that unique office. President Nkrumah had created all the others upon Ghana attaining independence.”

Source: Daily Guide