Reignite spirit of fighting corruption:Rawlings
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has charged the government to reignite the spirit of fighting corruption countrywide.
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He said there had been a paradigm shift in the fight against corruption since 2000.
“The colour of this democracy is very different from the colour of democracy we knew from 1982 to 1992, and also very different, from the colour of the democracy we knew from the constitutional period from 1993 to 2000.
He said the colour of those revolutions contained strong elements of justice, truthfulness; freedom and the spirit of defiance that could not condone wrongdoing.
31 December Revolution
Former President Rawlings made the remarks at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Revolutionary Square in Accra to commemorate the 34th Anniversary of the 31st December Revolution.
The revolution that ousted a civilian government, led by Dr Hilla Liman in December 1981, was led by then Flt Lt Rawlings.
Dr Liman of the People’s National Party, having won a general election in 1979 and sworn in as a president for the Republic of Ghana in September same year, was removed from office after serving for barely 15 months.
Former President Rawlings attributed the action in 1981 to the economic mismanagement by the then PNP government.
‘I keep reminding ourselves’
Speaking at the ceremony, the former president said: “I keep reminding ourselves of the colours of revolution. It is extremely important that we do everything possible to recapture that spirit before it becomes too late.
“I keep saying the people of this country are peace-loving people, and it is important that we do not take the peace-loving nature of Ghanaians for granted.”
Democratic practice in Ghana from 2000
Former President Rawlings said democratic practice in Ghana from 2000 appeared to lack the will, the capacity, and the ability to fight corruption, adding that he would continue to hammer on the need for change.
“The colour of this democracy seems a little too different from what we used to know from the spirit of defiance that could contain the greed, the selfishness that has given rise to some corruption and pain in this country,” he bemoaned.
In a few months, the former president said, the congregation would be meeting again to light the flame of June 4.
“Let us hope that we will see some colour that we could identify with that is discernible with the revolution.
“We need to reignite the spirit to fight corruption, the spirit to contain greed, selfishness, otherwise, we may not be able to reach our destination. Ghanaians deserve better,” he stated.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to expedite its actions in searching for those who had profited from the change of the colour starting from 2000, and those profiting from this change in colour now.
Laying of wreath
Wreaths were laid on behalf of cadre corps, security services, traditional rulers, farmers, fishermen and the youth.
Lighting of the perpetual flame was done by ACP Jango Nuhu of the Nima Divisional Police Station on behalf of former President Rawlings.
The flame served as a reminder to Ghanaians and also sought to cherish the ideals of the 31st December Revolution.