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| Obed Asamoah Counsels Rawlings |
2/28/2007 |
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The former pal of the ex-President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah, now the life patron of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), has admonished the former to honour the invitation extended to him by President John Agyekum Kufuor as the nation celebrates its 50th Independence anniversary scheduled totake place on March 6 this year.
According to Dr. Asamoah, also a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General under the administration of the National Democatic Congress (NDC), it would be appropriate if the former President attends the anniversary as he continues to express his reservations as far as governance is concerned.“I would have wished that he attends the anniversary in the name of peace, unity and national reconciliation,” Dr Asamoah said in an interview granted to the Ghanaian Chronicle adding, “he can still continue to express his sentiments on issues that he thinks are very necessary.
“In fact if I were him, I will have honoured the invitation in spite of his reservations.” Continuing, the former national chairman of the NDC said, “it does not mean that he should abandon his objections that he has been making. In situations like that his expressions may get more sympathy.”
Dr. Obed Asamoah, a veteran politician who indicated that his newly-formed DFP would cause a stir during the 2008 general elections, said should he (J.J) reject the honour, people would get the impression that, “he is behaving out of anger. People would want to see that at this time of the nation’s anniversary, his anger takes a back seat and show a certain commitment or an interest in the nation’s history.
Pushed to share his views on the late invitation to the former President as the only living ex-President, while other dignitaries were invited far in advance, which has been one of the reservations of people close to the expresident, Dr. Asamoah noted that such complaint has no basis.Accordingly, he said most of the invitees within the sub-region are all presidents and that they needed time for security arrangements. “He is just the former president. Those invited are all presidents and they need adequate time for their security,” he said. Quissed whether it was important for Jerry Rawlings to attend, he said, “What people want is some kind of reconciliation. People are looking for peace and stability for this nation and they would be happy to see Rawlings participating in the celeberations. I think that sentiments of reconciliation should be there as we celebrate the anniversary.
Additionally, the DFP boss said, “I wish he could honour it and can still make his points or his disagreements. But left to me alone, the invitation was a good gesture. Dr Asamoah said the Former President’s rejection of the invitation would create the impression that “he is behaving out of anger. People would want to see that at this time of the nation’s anniversary, his anger takes a back seat and show a certain commitment or an interest in the nation’s history”.
The DFP leader also observed that Ghana had something to celebrate for the progress she has made from 1957. “...I think we must celebrate it. It is an opportunity for us to look back and see what we have not done and correct our mistakes.”
The Chronicle
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