A former Minister of Communication, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has denied a narration by former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Prof Kamena Awhoi, that he (Omane Boamah) was part of a group of young party stalwarts purposefully groomed to attack former President Jerry John Rawlings any time the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) attacked President John Atta Mills before his death.
In his recently-launched book, ‘Working with Rawlings’, Prof Awhoi chronicled, among others things, that some elders in the party adopted the attack strategy against Mr Rawlings, which, he said “worked” during a post-book launch interview with Accra-based Citi TV.
Mr Rawlings, would later describe those young attackers unleashed on him as ‘Babies with sharp teeth’.
In a statement, however, Dr Omane Boamah denied being one of those people.
“I have read excerpts of the Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi’s book, ‘Working with Rawlings’ that appear to suggest I was among a group of young politicians, who were purposely engaged by him and others to respond to and ‘talk back’ at former President Rawlings for the latter’s attacks on the personality of the late President of Ghana, His Excellency John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.
“Respectfully, I need to place on record that this claim is wholly and completely inaccurate and untrue”, the former presidential spokesperson said.
“As a young man and politician with core convictions”, Dr Omane Boamah said: “I was never engaged nor could I have allowed myself to be used by anyone to talk back at former President Rawlings”.
He continued: “My principled stand in defending the late President Atta Mills, without insults, against attacks I thought were underserved was borne out of my respect and appreciation of the personality of the late President Mills – the Asomdwehene, his pureness of heart and other sterling and unique qualities that he possessed to a fault”.
“The suggestion that my defence of the late President was part of a deliberate ‘strategy’ by elders is irksome to me”, he said.
“It does not reflect my personality as a politician of conviction and not of convenience”, he noted.
“For the record, I state emphatically and unequivocally that any claim that I was a recruited participant in any such grand agenda could only be the result of an inadvertent error in recollection and not founded on anything that remotely resembles the truth”, Dr Omane Boamah stressed.
Meanwhile, Mr Rawlings has said he will soon deal with Prof Ahwoi.
Among other things, Prof Ahwoi said President John Evans Atta Mills almost resigned as a result of some comments Mr Rawlings made about him in Tamale.
Also, the book claims Mr Rawlings squeezed the testicles of Mr Bede Ziedeng, one of the party’s stalwarts, during an encounter.
In a statement, however, Mr Rawlings said inasmuch as “I find it tiring and tedious to be engaging in self-defence when I have given my all, all these years, I will soon deal with the callous agenda of bile by the likes of Kwamena Ahwoi, who are desperately seeking control of the NDC party”.
He said the “NDC could, should and has survived on the authority of the word but if care is not taken, it will collapse and drown as has been happening, on the word of those in authority”.
Also, former Keta MP Dan Abodakpi, has described the book, launched by Prof Ahwoi on Thursday, 30 July 2020, as “treacherous” and “slanderous”.
Mr Abodakpi, who is the Chairman of the Volta Regional Council of Elders for the NDC, said in a statement that: “I have read some excerpts of the book and I am convinced that this is a perilous, ill-timed submission at this point in our party’s history”.
“It is, in fact, in several instances, a factually wrong and dangerous aberration likely to create tensions in and out. Is the objective of this enterprise to destroy President Rawlings’ political legacy? If so, then I can tell my brother and my friend that he is simply wasting his time”, he asserted.
Again, he noted, “I question the motive of the author in twisting the facts to denigrate the person of the founder of a party he claims to love”. “President Jerry John Rawlings may not be a ‘plaster Saint’ but he certainly does not deserve this from people like Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, who, quite frankly, were gifted the privilege to participate in building on the foundations of sacrifice established by the founder. I state for the records that I distance myself from any and all references made to me in this book”, Mr Abodakpi said.
He said Prof. Awhoi and “those supporting this slanderous and treacherous book are served notice that any attempt to misrepresent the facts behind the true story of the Revolution and the NDC party to our people, will be fiercely resisted”.
Read his full statement below:
PERSONAL STATEMENT – OFFICE OF HON. DAN ABODAKPI – CHAIRMAN OF VOLTA REGIONAL COUNCIL OF ELDERS – NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) – Launch of Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi’s Book – “Working with Rawlings” For those who know me in my political career, I have always believed in the right of all persons to express their views in a firm but respectful manner.
However, when information is presented that is wholly inaccurate or patently false, it should be called out.
I have the the unfortunate task of placing on record a personal statement following the launch of my good friend, Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi’s book entitled – “Working with Rawlings”.
Prof. Ahwoi extended an invitation to me for the book launch. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, as a matter of principle. I have read some excerpts of the book and I am convinced that this is a perilous, ill-timed submission at this point in our party’s history. It is, in fact, in several instances, a factually wrong and dangerous aberration likely to create tensions in and out. Is the objective of this enterprise to destroy President Rawlings’ political legacy? If so, then I can tell my brother and my friend that he is simply wasting his time. I present my personal statement as I have become aware of some sections of the book attributed to me, which are utterly false. One such example of inaccuracy, was incorrectly referencing to my designation as High Commissioner to Malaysia under President Mahama.
Please be informed that I was High Commissioner under our late President Prof. Mills and not President Mahama. Another utterly false representation is with regard to my views on the former First Lady – Mrs Rawlings and her decision to contest President Mills.
I have always maintained that the decision of the former First Lady to contest Prof Mills was not well-thought-through at the time and, therefore, not prudent.
However, I would never describe her in so derogatory a manner as has been done in the book. I wish to state unequivocally that I will never be an accessory to any grand agenda to delink President Rawlings from the National Democratic Congress, the party that he founded.
It is my considered opinion that many parts of the book that I have sighted, are not really factual. My very intimate historical knowledge of some of the key actions that shaped our revolutionary/democratic evolution and our current political status are not in question, given my experience as a Member of the Political Committee and the Campaign Steering Committee.
Again, I question the motive of the author in twisting the facts to denigrate the person of the founder of a party he claims to love.
President Jerry John Rawlings may not be a ‘plaster Saint’ but he certainly does not deserve this from people like Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, who, quite frankly, were gifted the privilege to participate in building on the foundations of sacrifice established by the founder. I state for the records that I distance myself from any and all references made to me in this book. Prof. Awhoi and those supporting this slanderous and treacherous book are served notice that any attempt to misrepresent the facts behind the true story of the Revolution and the NDC party to our people, will be fiercely resisted.
Signed
Hon Dan Abodakpi
