PRESS RELEASE - AU High Representative H.E. Rawlings mediates on the Somali parliament crises.

Mogadishu January 25th 2012: The African Union High Representative for Somalia H.E. Jerry John Rawlings paid a one day visit to Mogadishu where he held meetings with various stakeholders as part of the AU¹s continued efforts to resolve the current political standoff in the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP).

H.E. Rawlings held talks with the president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) H.E. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister H.E. Abdiwelli Mohammed Ali and UN Special Representative for Somalia Ambassador Augustine Mahiga at Villa Somalia before holding separate meetings with all the parties involved in the current political crises in parliament.

Speaking to journalists shortly after meeting President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, H.E. Jerry John Rawlings said that on behalf of the African Union, he is committed to help in resolving the current crises in parliament.

]]> http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/rawlings-mediates-on-the-somali-parliament-crises/feed/ 0 jjrawlings J.J. Rawlings in Somalia http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/rawlings-africa-failed-its-people/ http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/rawlings-africa-failed-its-people/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:16:33 +0000 jjrawlings http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/?p=2918 ]]>

Ghana’s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, says Africa failed to prevent excesses sponsored by some members of the international community during political upheavals in countries such as Libya and Cote d’Ivoire.

President Rawlings said the political movements in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Cote d’Ivoire challenged the capacity of the African Union as far as conflict resolution was concerned and called for an urgent corrective mechanism so the “blood and toil of those who laid down their lives to seek change do not go to waste”.

In an address as special guest at the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament in Addis Ababa on Monday, President Rawlings called on the continental Parliamentary body to take strong positions on African issues and allow itself to be heard.

President Rawlings who was appointed Ambassador of the Pan-African Parliament in October 2011, lamented a harrowing situation in Egypt where illegal immigrants are abducted, enslaved and some killed through the removal of some of their organs. He said though the report was published by the CNN months ago action it had not been taken up and called on the Pan-African Parliament and other AU organs to thoroughly investigate the report.

The AU High Representative also expressed the world’s disappointment over the renewed violence in Egypt.

He said: “We should be particularly concerned about the situation in Egypt where the pain and agony that the people endured in Tahir Square and other cities, is repeating itself a few months down the line. It is obvious the very oppressive machinery the revolution sought to displace has re-emerged and under the guise of national security, ordinary Egyptians are again facing assault and brutalities reminiscent of what happened in January and February last year in Tahir Square and other cities across the country.”

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi who was the Guest of Honour commended President Rawlings for his candour and called on the Pan-African Parliament to table the concerns raised in the former Ghanaian President’s address to the Assembly of Heads of State when it meets at the end of January.

Please find attached the full text of President Rawlings’ address.

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS, FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA AND AFRICAN UNION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOMALIA AT THE SIXTH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT – ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 16, 2012

Your Excellency Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Guest of Honour, Right Honourable Moussa Idriss Ndele, President of the Pan-African Parliament, Excellences, Honourable members of the Pan-African Parliament, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I wish to express my gratitude to the Pan-African Parliament for offering me the opportunity once again, to share my thoughts on an important occasion such as the Sixth Ordinary Session which has been convened on the theme: “Transformation of the Pan-African Parliament into a legislative organ.”

Having taking time to study and examine the overview of the review process of the protocol relating to the Pan-African Parliament and the treaty establishing the African Economic Community, it is obvious a lot of work has gone into reviewing the relevance of the Pan-African Parliament to make it a more recognizable organ of influence on the continent and more relevant to the changing face of politics in Africa and beyond.

The process of transforming the institution into a legislative one, albeit in a progressive manner, faces difficulties because some member states believe the continent is not ready for a Pan-African Parliamentary body with full or even limited legal powers.

Ladies and gentleman, this latest challenge means the Pan-African Parliament has been compelled to adopt lobbying at various levels in its quest to ensure the transformation process is not derailed.

During the last meeting of the Speakers of the Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, I expressed my support for a transformed body with the legal capacity to institute policies that will strengthen Parliaments across the continent and embolden them to play the role of being a common platform for Africa peoples and their grassroots organisations, as enshrined in the Pan-African Parliament charter.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen, while the campaign for the transformation of the Pan-African Parliament into a legislative organ takes steam, it is imperative that the Parliament even in its advisory state enhances its image and reputation by taking strong positions on issues on the continent and allow itself to be heard.

Matters for discussion at the Sixth Ordinary Session include presentations and debate on the state of the African Union as well as Peace and Security.

These two issues I am convinced will dominate discussions during meetings of the Executive Council and the Assembly of Heads of State later this month. It is thus important that deliberations during this session set the stage for discussions during the upcoming summits.

Africa has over the past 12 months experienced political upheavals of a massive nature and the action or inaction of the African Union and its various organs has brought to question the future of this body established with most noble intentions.

From Tunisia through Egypt to Libya and even in Ivory Coast there were political movements of different nature that challenged the institution established to engender African unity, peace and development.

While majority of us were delighted by the will of the people to take their destiny into their own hands, we were taken aback by the failure of the continent to prevent excesses in countries such as Libya and Ivory Coast.

Our collective drawback is something that has to be corrected with some sense of urgency and drive so the blood and toil of those who laid down their lives to seek change do not go to waste.

We should be particularly concerned about the situation in Egypt where the pain and agony that the people endured in Tahir Square and other cities, is repeating itself a few months down the line. It is obvious the very oppressive machinery the revolution sought to displace has re-emerged and under the guise of national security, ordinary Egyptians are again facing assault and brutalities reminiscent of what happened in January and February last year in Tahir Square and other cities across the country. For how long are we going to be silent observers? And yet the revolutions by the unarmed civilian populations in Tunisia and Egypt gave the world so much hope that freedom and justice was finally going to triumph. How do we then turn around and assault that resolve in the manner currently being observed by all?

A few months ago the CNN Freedom Project published an expose on the cruel abduction and removal of human parts from illegal immigrants trying to pass through Egypt into Israel. Bedouin smugglers trafficking humans reportedly remove the human parts while the immigrants are still alive. Immigrants are enslaved, tortured and those who cannot afford to pay huge sums to these smugglers face the ultimate penalty of a dehumanizing death through organ removal! And Africa is quiet?

Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot allow this level of depravity to continue on our continent without seeking answers and calling for thorough investigations to get to the bottom of the matter. These are the issues that the Pan-African Parliament should be forcefully questioning, to make itself more relevant to the people of the continent and justify its quest to become a legislative organ. It is not too late and I hope and pray that you will look into this matter and call on other organs of the AU to also take a cue.

Parliament as an organ of state or of a continent, as yours is, is primarily an institution that serves not only as a law-making body but which also crystalizes the separation of powers concept that democracy prides itself in. Parliament serves as an anti-corruption organ looking into the activities of other institutions of state such as the Executive, to ensure that it takes actions that protect the rights of the people and the wealth of the state. It is thus important that at all times and purposes you remind your members who are representatives from various national parliaments that they are not an extension of the executive, elected by the people to endorse and rubber stamp every action of the executive, but to properly scrutinize and query actions of the executive and its organs in order to boost the confidence of the ordinary people of our countries in democratic governance.

Similarly the Pan-African Parliament should be empowered legally to have the capacity and responsibility of vetting the finances of the AU as all national parliaments are obligated to. That way we can offer more confidence to the donor community and allow our institutional transparency to trickle down to the rest of the continent.

Development should always be premised on justice, freedom, integrity and transparency. Had these ideals guided the huge economic and infrastructural development in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya their countries would not have endured the eruption in the people’s quest for justice and freedom.

Honourable members of African Parliaments represented here have a huge responsibility to also champion the crusade to make Africa truly African and capable of managing her affairs.

It is simply humiliating that in the 21st century our continent finds some of its leaders hounded to The Hague like lamb to the slaughter, while we are supposed to have the capacity to judge our own. We have to leave The Hague to those who cannot control their destiny. If Libyans were justified to overthrow the Gaddafi regime in their quest for freedom and justice, why then can they not try their own?

If Ivorians are truly seeking peace and reconciliation, a process agreed by both the Ouattara and Gbagbo factions, why then send a former leader who in spite of his faults has paid his dues to his country, to the ICC?

We have and have had faulty leaders but we have enough good and progressive leaders who can only succeed if institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament and national parliaments offer them the needed sense of direction and support.

The time has come to stop being observers but active participants in the changing scenes of the continent. We stand the danger of allowing a new form of colonialism to engulf our continent enslaving us into puppets of the international community. Let us combine our efforts in taking a strong stance against such a looming threat.

Your Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot conclude my address without mentioning Somalia. As African Union High Representative for Somalia, I must congratulate all stakeholders from across the globe for their tremendous support in seeking peace in Somalia through the pursuit of the transitional roadmap. I am thankful also to all who supported the humanitarian effort and continue to do so. Many are yet to make good on their pledges during the Pledging Conference of last August and I serve a polite reminder to them not to forget the dire situation that millions of our people still face in the Horn of Africa.

I congratulate IGAD and particularly Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia for their renewed interest in creating a stable and peaceful Somalia. We cannot forget the pioneering role of Burundi and Uganda in the peace-enforcement process. We are also thankful to United Nations, which has played a crucial role in the progress so far. We expect more commitment in terms of enablers for AMISOM and the TFG so that this time next year we can have a more stable and politically secure Somalia.

Our dear members of Parliament from Somalia, this is a call to you and your colleagues who are not here, to give peace a chance by exploring all avenues to resolve the impasse over the removal of the Parliamentary Speaker. A lot of progress has been made on the political front and its paramount that we do not allow this standoff to sidetrack us from the progress achieved so far.

We should not allow observers to believe that we seek power at the expense of confronting the common enemy. If Al Shabaab were no longer the perceived obstacle could you the major players guarantee peace and stable governance in Somalia?

Right Honourable Idriss Ndele, Honourable members of the Pan-African Parliament, Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you a successful session and offer my unflinching support in your quest to seek a radical review of the protocols governing the Pan-African Parliament. Africa deserves strong and capable institutions and your quest is a noble one that deserves the support of everyone on the continent.

Thank you and Good Luck.

Click to view slideshow.

ADDRESS BY FLT LT JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS, FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA AND LEADER OF THE REVOLUTION AT A LECTURE TO MARK THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 31STDECEMBER REVOLUTION – NATIONAL THEATRE, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2011

Mr. Chairman, fellow colleagues and comrades:

It is inspiring that we have all converged here today to commemorate the 30th anniversary celebrations of the 31st December 1981 Revolution.

Ladies and gentlemen, the revolution was borne out of a national quest to instill a sense of transparency and integrity into the politics of our country. The revolution was one that created an avenue for true grassroots political participation, creating a form of political governancethat gave responsibility to the very core of our local social structure.

The newfound political structure that included the Peoples Defence Committees and Arbitration Committees that swiftly dispensed justice brought a sense of participation in politics unsurpassed in Ghana.

It is therefore relevant that this year’s celebration is under the theme: THREE DECADES OF GRASSROOT PARTICIPATION; ITS RELEVANCE TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL DISPENSATION, particularly because the corruption of today has gone overboard – completely overboard – since 2000 and that is because the ordinary people have lost a say in the political management of this country.

Corruption I believe, is easier to fight when leadership, be it political, traditional, religious or family head are all involved and providing exemplary leadership.

Let us draw our minds back and try to relive the moral outrage of our nation in the late 70s, to have exacted such a high price for a corruption level that was no where near what we have in Ghana today.

The great irony is that, in no other place or time did we have a revolt that exacted such a price. A revolt being class inclined would have to be absolute and total or partial and live with the dangers engaged in the subsequent reforms. But for the policing effect of our presence and thepower of the will of the people in the first ten years of our revolutionarydemocracy and to a lesser degree in the subsequent eight years of constitutional democracy so much more of our nation’s virtue could have been lost.

I have said it over and over that no group of lesser integrity could have survived in government without attempting to corrupt and disempower the will and integrity of our nation, hence the concentrated effort that was made to corrupt especially the judiciary and uniformed institutions and the general use of terror tactics.

The shock of the nation coiled itself in anger and took back its power in the 2004 election. Our leadership was however unable to prevent the electoral theft. The theft was easily preventable and the nation could also have spontaneously demonstrated it. The nation had to suffer a further four years of suffering under a very corrupt leadership.

With the approach of the 2008 elections the nation had to reject the faint-heartedness and brace herself once more. The nation wascoiled once again. People were preparing, if necessary to die for their freedom once again.

I recall warning the world and the government that the nation was coiled for an explosion of joy or an explosion of rage. Any attempt to repeat the theft of 2004 will bring about serious explosion whose consequences will far exceed that of June 4, 1979.

The late Nigerian President saved the sub-region with the timely intervention to ensure that the verdict was not stolen again. The whole hope of the nation for a healthy cleansing effect has been dashed with our poor leadership and has even exacerbated the depth of corruption in this country.

Political style and approach will always be different as leadership changes, but the ideals and basis for the establishment of a political cause cannot be toyed with. Unfortunately that is the situation the current NDC finds itself. I have to sadly admit that the there is a breakdown of values in the NDC and many who find themselves in positions of leadership within the party and government operate as if there is no ideological basis behind the establishment of the party.

Many have decided it is convenient to pursue sycophantic support for the current leadership at the expense of what the party stands for and see truth and constructive criticism as damaging to the fortunes of the NDC.

Ladies and gentlemen, we find ourselves in a situation where we have become so distanced from reality, that the local structures that benefitted the NDC and accorded it the opportunity to garner public opinion at the lowest level have all dissipated as the grassroots membership have losttrust and confidence, rather opting to organize demonstrations and send petitions, many of which are ignored.

It is not too late to save the NDC from the abyss. Those who have the power and capacity to create a renewed confidence in the partyhave to wake up from their political slumber and remember their true beginnings.

The most dangerous mistake of any political force is to forget its roots and that unfortunately is the bane of many of our political leaders today. Rather than represent the will of the people, many have chosen to represent their own individual and parochial agendas.

Ladies and gentlemen, tune in to radio and television nowadays and you will be assailed by a level of political intolerance and vitriol that insults the very heartbeat of the ordinary people of this country. Politicians in their bid to protect their positions outdo themselves in thename of debate putting up hollow arguments that would shock even a five-year-old.

The whole concept of political pluralism has been so abused that one wonders whether we can salvage the situation. Many in the NDC leadership now believe they do not owe any explanation to the populace. In reacting toallegations of abuse of office, corruption, malfeasance, incompetence and ahost of others, they respond in good measure by accusing the opposition of having done worse things. In other words we can afford to make the same mistakes because you started it.

We go into an election in 2012 and many have made several calls for unity as we enter the New Year. For many unity means keepquiet, support the NDC as it is and we will win the election.

It is not Rawlings who wins elections. It is the ordinary people of Ghana who win elections. They make choices based on the capacity of a party to listen to them, to accept their role in governance and to pursue an agenda that protects their interests. Those are the ideals Jerry Rawlings and millions of Ghanaians stand for.

If Jerry Rawlings represents the NDC then it must be an NDC that represents these ideals. It will be pointless and indeed negative to the fortunes of the party if I act like a hypocrite in the name of elections and start preaching ‘hail the NDC’. The time has come for those who have the responsibility of changing the free-fall of the NDC to bring it to a halt and take drastic actions, however late to re-embrace the ideals that won the party the 2008 elections.

It is not too late to go back to the grassroots; to the footsoldiers and listen to them. The level of despondency amongst our support base is largely due to the detachment of our leadership from the people as well as the betrayal of those who have refused to blindly support the current leadership.

We have so far failed to correct the several wrongs of the past – the failures of the NPP that we promised to correct. Case after case have been lost in court not because innocent people were being tried, but because we failed miserably to properly investigate before going to court. Now we have lost the moral high ground.

Ladies and gentlemen, in criticizing the current government I do so based on the fact that I interact with people on a dailybasis and they express their disappointment with the detachment of both party and government from the people. If the party leadership is so detached from the people, then how can it hold the government in check? Rawlings can point these out a million times but if the party leadership in particular will not wake up and do a genuine self-examination we will not get far.

Every sympathizer of the NDC has a role to play in pointing these lapses out to the party leadership and government. You are the ones who are enduring the pain and you cannot sit quiet and allow yourselves to be cowed into silence. Speak up and compel your leaders to listen. Do not allow the sweet gifts of election year to confuse you into a false sense of security.

I dare to caution that if we fail to identify the true basis of what the NDC stands for and change direction quickly we will go into an election falsely patting ourselves for a good job done only to consign ourselves into perpetual doom because the people of this country are disappointed with our performance so far.

Thank you.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has in a Christmas Message called on politicians to exhibit a high sense of responsibility in their actions and utterances during the coming year.

President Rawlings said most politicians from various sides of the political divide had cultivated a thought process that gives little credence to the intelligence of average Ghanaians.

“The crass behaviour and utterances must give way to noble and respectful language and thought,” President Rawlings said.

Speaking in an exclusive interview at his Ridge office, President Rawlings urged Ghanaians to celebrate the yuletide in moderation.

He is also reminding all to meditate on the nation’s critical need to sustain the peace and desire a progressive 2012, which will be devoid of acrimony.

“Let us use this period to pray and call on all participants in the political environment to lead us responsibly into 2012, taking actions and decisions that sow seeds of progress and development rather than tension and divisiveness,” he told Myjoyonline.com.

“We have been witnesses to situations where politicians and their assigns have made irresponsible statements that do the nation no good. This must give way to more thoughtful intercourse that recognizes the intellect of the average Ghanaian.”

The former President also called for the strengthening of family relations during the Christmas season, as that is the bedrock of society and the stepping-stone for national unity and peace.

“Work and other social challenges have meant that throughout the year we spend little time at home as a family unit. You are looking at the situation where parents leave home early in the day and return home late, having little or no time to interact with young members of the family.

“Let us work to consolidate family values this season and by so doing appreciate the warmth, love and affection this singular action brings to our lives.”

The former President also prayed for peace in conflict areas on the continent particularly Somalia, saying while a lot of progress had been made towards peace, a lot more commitment was required from all stakeholders. He called on all Africans toremember to “commit the Somali conflict and others to prayer and meditation so we can find lasting peace soon”.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has commended Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways staff for their dedication to duty and their sense of professionalism.

President Rawlings says staff and crew of the two airlines have become an integral part of his travel schedule as African Union High Representative for Somalia and had throughout 2011 ensured that he travelled safely and comfortably across the continent.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Myjoyonline.com on his Christmas Message, the former President also prayed for peace in conflict areas on the continent particularly Somalia.

PresidentRawlings noted that his role in Somalia took him to destinations such as Bujumbura in Burundi, Khartoum in Sudan, Brazzaville in Congo and a host ofother African destinations. “Most of these trips have been made on either Ethiopian or Kenyan and I must confess their sense of professionalism has always made these trips less stressful,” President Rawlings explained.

“I have felt safe and secure traveling with these two airlines and as the year comes to a climax I have to say thank you for flying us safely from one destination to the other over the period,” he said.

Interestingly, President Rawlings has had a relationship with crew of a number of airlines for over three decades. “They are like family,” he said. “I have known some of the crew as far back as more than 30 years ago when I was a young officer in the Air Force.

Ex-President Rawlings was appointed AU High Representative for Somalia on October 8, 2010, to champion the international community’s efforts at restoring peace in war ravaged Somalia.

The appointment followed a decision on the Report of the AU Peace and Security Council adopted by the Assembly of the Union at its 15th Ordinary Session held in Kampala, Uganda, in July 2010.

Source – www.myjoyonline.com

Click to view slideshow.

Usually, the Christmas seasons in Ghana witnesses a lot of vehicular and human activities. While drivers want to cash in on the season, passengers want to reach their destinations early to spend more time with friends and loved ones. This is also the season when road accidents are rampant.

There have been numerous calls from various quarters to all stakeholders to ensure accident-free Christmas.

Former President Rawlings, speaking from his Ridge office here in Accra called on all road users including pedestrians and hawkers to be disciplined during this Christmas season in order for families to have a successful celebration.

According to him, road accidents always have ripple effects on extended members of the family and society at large, hence the need for carefulness on the road, especially during the festive season.

He said, “very often when we get these kinds of accidents on our roads, it is not only the 22, or 16 people who died, but we destroy the lives of children, husbands, wives, families etc. So let us show a little more concern. This kind of indiscipline is not good enough”.

JJ Rawlings entreated Ghanaians to be mindful of what the Christmas season stands for, stressing, “if we can keep in mind what Christmas stands for, we wouldn’t be behaving in this kind of irresponsible manner”.

“As we draw closer towards Christmas, I can only appeal that we pay a little more attention and enjoy the Christmas in a manner that keeps us healthy. Let’s not forget what Christmas stands for anyway; if we can keep in mind what Christmas stands for, we wouldn’t be behaving in this kind of irresponsible manner”.

By Dennis Nii Lantey Lawson / Xfm 95.1

Speaking from his Ridge office in Accra, the Ex-president bemoaned the “present Ghana” which he said has become “extremely boring and stagnant with corruption, indiscipline, etc.”, saying, “this crass behaviour is just not good enough”.

Recounting how he was confronted with this kind of decadence in a certain country several years ago, Mr Rawlings said he prayed “this disease does not engulf us here in Ghana”. He however quickly added, “but sorry, ladies and gentlemen, today this kind of selfish, crass behaviour is solidly in Ghana”.

“I remember I used to warn ourselves that if we do not deal, restore the moral behaviour and ethical values of our society, we will sink deep. Can we rescue our values that are being replaced by money? Can we bring back the discipline we used to know, the dedication”; that a young lady will have to sleep with somebody before she gets a job; this is not good enough. I bleed for this country. Where we find ourselves is absolutely unnecessary”.

“All those big countries we see, they have not thrown their values overboard in spite of all the money they have. How could you adopt money to replace your values? I have said it over and over and I will continue repeating it”.

The former President made these remarks a while ago in his Ridge office when ace footballer, Sammy Kufuor paid a courtesy call on him to invite him to attend his testimonial match at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday, December 23, 2011.

Ex- president Rawlings who expressed honour at the invitation to grace the occasion was full of praise for the former Bayern Munich and Black Stars defender; Sammy Kufuor, a man he said he has grown to respect. He called on Sammy compatriots to emulate the fine example that he has demonstrated both on and off the field.

“I am touched, grateful and honoured to be invited by Sammy to come and watch his testimonial game. I’m glad to hear that I did affect his life when he first started off. If he stood on the shoulders of someone who was great but was unknown, it is his mother; he probably doesn’t know what I know about his background”.

“The discipline he has demonstrated both on the field and off the field has won him a great deal of respect and admirers. When he will get knocked down and he will only smile; I have grown to respect this young man. There were good number of others like him, but I wish they will also be bold enough to branch out like he is doing, to reinvest his energy to help his community and his people. This is what Ghana needs the most; this kind of discipline and dedication we need to see”.

“I’ll try my possible best to be there for the 23rd and I will like to appeal to all patriots as many of them as can possibly can to be there”.

Emotionally drained Sammy Kufuor recounted how the former President had personally contributed to his personal success.

“I feel like crying… I remember in 1990, we had a game against Sierra Leone. We were camping in Teshie when his Excellency passed by. All the players run away but I was bold and faced him. He told me ‘tomorrow you had to win’. We won the game and he gave us five million. That money made me who I am today. My mother who has been an inspiration to me advised me to invest the money wisely. So today, I am here to just say your Excellency, please, once again I believe you will make time to be there for me, please.”

Herbert Mensah, a former Chief Executive of Kumasi Asanti Kotoko, who was also present, said the likes of Sammy Kufuor; who remember their roots “need to be respected”, saying, “we live in a society today where people forget where they came from and the people who made them.”

He saluted Sammy Kufuor for his exploits, saying “anybody who can play for Bayern Munich and the Black Stars needs to be respected”.

Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana

Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has charged Ghanaians to take education serious because it is key to the socio-economic development of the individual and society at large.

Nana Konadu also called on parents to guide and monitor their children closely as they embrace modern technology such as the Internet because of the potential to corrupt children.

The former First Lady made the call at a grand ceremony to install her as the Nkosuohemaa (Queenmother of Development) of the Akyem Abuakwa state of Dokrochiwa in the Eastern Region.

Nana Konadu was crowned with the stool name, Nana Konadu Agyeman Opambour I.

Accepting her coronation asNkosuohemaa, Nana Konadu Agyeman Opambour conceded that a huge responsibility had been bestowed on her and thanked the Chiefs and people of the town for the honour done her.

She commended the Chiefs and people for launching an educational fund at the same ceremony and said the DWM had over the years supported disadvantaged children to pursue their education, stating that she was proud to have met some of the beneficiaries at both international and local forums.

Earlier Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana, who accompanied his wife to the grand durbar praised the people of Dokrochiwa for “their fortitude, integrity and courage in recognizing Nana Konadu.”

President Rawlings called on the people of Dokrochiwa and Ghanaians to always embrace the truth. He also praised the people for instituting an educational fund and charged all the citizenry to contribute their quota to the development of education. “Nobody should overlook the value of education,” he said.

The Chief of Dokrochiwa, Nana Bafour Anom II said in his welcome address that he was on a mission to uplift the image of Dokrochiwa. He described Nana Konadu as a “mature woman of wisdom” and expressed the pride of the chiefs and people that she had accepted to be the Nkosuohemaa of the town.

Nana Anom said it was distressing to see children of school-going age loitering about aimlessly, hence the institution of the educational fund. He called on his people to join hands in supporting the educational fund.

President and Mrs. Rawlingsdonated an amount of one thousand cedis to the educational fund. Earlier the newly installed Nkosuohemaa had donated five hundred cedis and assorted drinks to the Chiefs and people of Dokrochiwa.

Prophet Nana Daasebre Nana Mmea chaired the ceremony. Also present was the Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Aye Paye.

View a slideshow of the event here.