By Iddi Yire   

Accra, June 24, GNA – Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), says the values of former President Jerry John Rawlings, Founder of the Party, must be the guide for Ghanaians.  

He said the purpose of celebrating the birthday of the Party’s Founder was to learn from his principles such as probity and accountability, punctuality, positive defiance, his belief in democracy and the need for a regular lifestyle audit.  

A statement issued by the Office of former President Rawlings, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said Mr Nketia made the remarks at a well-attended ceremony organized by the NDC on Sunday to mark the 78th birthday of the Founder of the Party, former President Rawlings in Accra.   

Mr Nketia said such a commemorative event was an opportunity to also redefine Ghanaians’ values as a nation.  

“There is no country that has developed without national values. Today, for us in NDC we have something to talk about. But if you ask the nation, as a Ghanaian what are our aspirations, what are the things we believe in, what represents our code of conduct, we do not have,” he said.  

“We can look at all our great leaders and the values they espoused. Even if it is possible let’s take the debate to parliament and define our national values.”  

Mr Nketia stated that it was necessary to define national values so that Ghanaians could judge their leadership and citizens when they deviated from such values.  

“I know that our Founder espoused probity and accountability. It does not matter where you are placed as a citizen,” he said. “You must always remember that you have to account for your stewardship.   

“Probity and accountability should not be understood to mean accounting for money. If it is a position of authority that you have been assigned, remember that there will be a day that you have to explain and account to the citizens how you use that authority.”  

Touching on the principle of positive defiance espoused by the late former President Rawlings, the Party’s Chairman said what it meant was that if one’s senior was making a mistake one must stand up and state that such an action was wrong and one could not be part of that.  

“If you do not listen to your conscience and decide to perpetuate that wrong you are equally liable even though it was a superior’s directive.”   

He said it was necessary that the nation’s youth were made to appreciate that bold principle.   

Mr Nketia touted former President Rawlings’ democratic credentials, stating that he committed himself to collecting views from all concerned before a decision was made.   

He referred to times when President Rawlings would go to Makola to consult with market queens and big traders to inquire if the upcoming budget was convenient or not.  

He said the former President also believed in punctuality and belief in lifestyle audits, convinced that time was money.   

President Rawlings, Mr Nketia recalled, always apologized when he had to be late for unavoidable reasons.   

“We have to inculcate timeliness in our citizenry,” Mr Nketia stated.   

The Party Chairman spoke about how those working for former President Rawlings had to explain any extra income if he thought they were living above their means.  

Mr Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings, the son of former President Rawlings, who attended the event alongside her sister, Madam Amina Agyeman-Rawlings, recalled their dad’s unflinching pursuit of real and meaningful participation of all Ghanaians in decision-making, culminating in the establishment of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies which were enshrined in the 1992 constitution.   

He added that: “As we mark this special day we are reminded of his vision for a better Ghana.   

“His courage in the face of adversity, his passion for justice and his unwavering dedication to the welfare of the Ghanaian people all of which are enshrined in the directive principles of state policy under the 1992 constitution.   

He said his leadership and legacy had left an indelible mark on our national history.  

Mr Agyemang-Rawlings thanked the NDC for keeping his father’s vision alive and for remaining a beacon of hope and protective umbrella for the Ghanaian people.   

He expressed the family’s appreciation for the solemn event to commemorate President Rawlings’ birthday and prayed that his memory continued to inspire all to build a better Ghana.  

Earlier, Mr Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, said President Rawlings was born for a great purpose.   

He said though like everyone, the late former President was not perfect, there was no one who was close to him who did not recognize the fact that his heart loved people, loved his country and loved humanity.   

He recalled that President Rawlings often spoke about the sovereignty of the human spirit which he Kwetey believed was actually the sovereignty of the divine spirit that oozed through humanity.  

Waxing spiritually, Mr Kwetey said the emergence of former President Rawlings was foreseen by many in as early as 1972 when they prophesied and saw in dreams that a young man would emerge to lead Ghana.   

He said right from the beginning, Rawlings stood for the resetting of the nation because he constantly appreciated and understood the soul of the nation.  

“We went into the election of 2024 with the clarion call of resetting Ghana.   

“If there is a time for us to understand the real reset mantra it must start with us, especially those of us in NDC.   

“This is the moment and this is the day that we should understand that,” Mr Kwetey said.  

Other speakers at the event were Nana Ato Dadzie, a former Chief of Staff at the Presidency and Naval Captain Asaasie Gyimah.   

Other high profile dignitaries present at the occasion were Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders, Chief Bawumia of the Council of Elders, Dr Christine Amoako Nuamah and Madam Akua Sena Dansua.  

GNA   

Christian Akorlie