[ 2014-08-30 ]

Rawlings book launch case on September 4
Accra, GNA - An Accra Fast Track High Court will
on September 4 hear a writ filed by Ex- President
Jerry John Rawlings seeking to restrain Professor
Kweku Danso-Boafo, from launching a book titled:
“JJ Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in
Ghana”.
Ex-President Rawlings noted that the author, a
former ambassador to the United Kingdom, did not
wait for his final input and went ahead to print
the book, which was expected to be launched in
Accra on August 20 this year.

Former President Rawlings in an affidavit prayed
the court to place an injunction on the book
launch, accusing Professor Danso-Boafo of reneging
on an earlier agreement.

According to Ex- President Rawlings, Prof.
Danso-Boafo should have waited for him to review
the book and correct all factual inaccuracies that
it may contain.

He contended that the author of the book “has
breached his own solemn undertaking with me and
has published the book “J.J. Rawlings and the
Democratic Transition in Ghana” with the view to
launching same.

Ex- president noted that the former Ambassador
“had not extended due courtesy to me relating to
the agreement aforesaid and had dropped a special
invitation inviting him to the launch of the
unapproved book. Annexed and marked as Exhibit C
is the special invitation dropped at my office by
the Defendant/ Respondent.”

Touching on background to the agreement with Prof.
Danso-Boafo, the former President said "Sometime
in 2006 the Defendant/Respondent approached me
that he intended writing a book on my role in
Ghana’s history with strong emphasis on how I
transitioned from military leader to
constitutional governance."

According to ex-president Rawlings after receiving
the request, he "strongly insisted that I am not
averse to him making me the centre of his intended
political and intellectual pursuit, provided
always that the Defendant will make available to
me the manuscript for my prior approval for
purposes of accurate historical facts and
analysis."

Prof. Danso-Boafo agreed to the terms, the
affidavit stated.

He said a letter acknowledging receipt of the
manuscript was sent to the author on March 1, 2012
in which letter "I was emphatic that I handed over
the transcript to a team of literary and legal
experts to evaluate and recommend amendments where
necessary, given the undeniable fact that the
Defendant/Respondent’s whole academic enterprise
centres primarily on my person."

Ex-Rawlings said he was determined to review the
manuscript because it contained "several
inaccuracies, misinformation and slants which have
the potential to poison Ghana’s historical
records and democratic evolution as well as bring
my name and family into disrepute."

He was therefore praying the court to restrain the
former ambassador from launching the book because
doing so will be detrimental "to me which cannot
be compensated in monetary terms."

Source - GNA

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