[ 2017-02-20 ]

Akufo-Addo, Buhari emergence divine intervention to fight corruption - Rawlings
Ghana’s former President, Jerry John Rawlings,
has described the emergence of Presidents
Muhammadu Buhari and Nana Akufo-Addo as a divine
intervention because of their respected
anti-corruption credentials.

The former President said Ghana is fortunate to
have somebody like Nana Akufo-Addo because of his
principles and values.

President Rawlings was speaking during a courtesy
call on him by a group of actors including
renowned Nigerian actor Pete Edochie, who are
working on a film production based on corruption
last Friday said.

“People think I like that man to high heavens.
No, but I respect him for certain principles and
values and I will continue to pray and I sincerely
hope that he stays the track and devote possibly
over 30 per cent of his time to fight corruption
and corruptible tendencies,” Rawlings said.


He expressed misgivings over the removal and
subsequent reinstatement of the head of a
government department who has been involved in
questionable dealings.

The former President wondered whose political
influence had been brought to bear on the
appointing authority stating that is why we have
to pray for the President to stay the course.

“I am using very polite language because I am
not unaware of what this particular Ghanaian has
been doing in that department. He should have been
thrown out, kept out and investigated but it
appears somebody’s influence brought itself to
bear and the decision was rescinded.

Touching on Nigeria the former President said it
was unfortunate that the cost of living appears to
be suffocating the people.

“So while some are praying for his health, some
are praying he wouldn’t come back,” he said in
reference to President Buhari’s presence in the
UK for medical treatment.

The former Ghana leader said rather than blame
Buhari, we should be blaming the extent and depth
to which corruption had gripped Nigeria.

“But I guess you need a creative team that would
know how to resolve the economic situation of the
country without possibly undermining the cost of
living of the people.”

Former President Rawlings also called for God’s
guidance for President Adama Barrow of The
Gambia.


“His emergence is an acknowledgment of the
rebirth of true freedom and justice in the Gambia
and I sincerely hope that he will not lose his
values and allow himself to be corrupted. And I
wish the same for the government (Ghana) here,”
he said.

The former President noted that people are getting
away with massive corruption because they are not
compelled to conform to traditional religious
authority.

“We swear by the Bible and the Koran and lie but
dare not with our local traditional deities. We
are destroying the fabric of our society.This is
not good enough.

President Rawlings commended the production of the
movie which has been titled ‘Greedy Bastards’
for its important and valuable theme.

“I must congratulate you for what you’re
trying to do. Let’s use some of these movies
effectively. People are distorting historical
truths all the time. When you find yourselves at
the centre of human endeavours like I have, truth
must be sacrosanct,” he stated.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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