The late President Rawlings (right) and wife
As the nation prepares to bid final farewell to the late former President Jerry John Rawlings on December 23, it has emerged that the former Ghanaian leader and the wife are the founders of the National Democratic Party (NDP).
A statement issued, yesterday, by Mr James Victor Gbeho, Head of the Funeral Planning Committee said: “The family of His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings has, in consultation with the government, agreed that the date for the State funeral of the former President is confirmed for Wednesday, 23 December 2020 at the Independence Square in Accra”.
Last week, the NDP held a press conference calling out the opposition NDC to stop embarking on acts that seek to portray that the party is trying to profit from the death of the former President.
Following the press conference, some Ghanaians questioned the mandate of the NDP to stop the NDC from ‘honouring’ its founder.
However, it has emerged that the former Ghanaian leader actually founded the NDP with his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
Party constitution
The NDP’s constitution, in Article 4 which talks about the party’s founders, lists Mr Rawlings and the wife as the only people on whose legacy the party was formed.
“The party shall, at all times, recognize and acknowledge the financial contributions and moral support of our Founding Fathers led by former President J.J. Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings,” the party’s constitution states in Clause one of Article 4.
It continues in clause two: “The legacy of the Founders, in so far as it relates to their efforts in establishing this party, is hereby acknowledged and recognized.
“4.3 No member of the party shall question, doubt, challenge or otherwise act in a manner calculated to compromise the legitimacy of their role as the Founders in relation to their unique position in the history of the party, as provided 2 above.
“4.4 Any member who, by word of mouth, conduct, act or omission does anything likely to bring the honour and integrity of the Founding Fathers into disrepute shall be liable to disciplinary proceedings,” the constitution stated.
It further states in clause 5 that “The Founding Fathers shall, from time to time, advise and make contributions to the leadership of the party with regard to its direction in order to realize the vision of the party”.
Rawlings’ philosophy
The party’s constitution in its preamble also shows that the party was formed on the philosophy and ideologies of the late President.
The preamble takes note “of efforts to consolidate democracy in Ghana and the strengthening of the various democratic institutions; recognizing the need to raise the conscious level of Ghanaians to the tenets of June 4 1979 and 31st December 1981: Accountability, Probity, Fairness and Justice; rekindling in Ghanaians the spirit of collective self-reliance, brotherliness and striving to remedy the moral and socio-political condition of the country with a view to empowering Ghanaians to the lofty ideals of contributing to the building and consolidation of a true lasting democracy.”
“Accordingly, roused from that sense of duty to the nation, WE, herein assembled in Kumasi, under the inspirational leadership of H. E. Former President J.J. Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, on this day, 13 DAY of October 2012, exhibiting our full powers which have been found to be in good and due form do resolve as follows: a. to bring together sidelined and despondent voters and other likeminded Ghanaians into a single and formidable political party devoid of greed, intimidation and selfishness; b. to work together toward a common goal of strengthening the grassroots, keeping to the true tenets of what makes us a party of choice for many in Ghana; c. to give birth to politics of tolerance in Ghana, create the political and social conditions that will continue to foster peace and ensure fairness among the diverse people of Ghana; d. to establish under the Constitution of Ghana, a moral order which will result in the spiritual regeneration of the country and to defend the sanctity of June 4th Uprising and December 31st, Revolution; e. to mobilize like-minded Ghanaians under the leadership of this new party, the National Democratic Party (NDP); and to be able to satisfy and restore the ‘lost hope” of curbing corruption, nepotism and lawlessness in Ghana; and f. to promote social progress,” it adds.
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