The spokesperson on health for the NDC’s Manifesto committee, Sylvester Mensah, has asked Ghanaians who may have suffered during the regime of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings to forgive him.

Although loved by many in the country, the former president was heavily criticized by others for what they describe as inhumane treatment meted out to citizens of the country during his reign as a military leader.

According to Mr. Mensah, the circumstances surrounding Jerry John Rawlings’ revolution gave rise to those excesses, but for the sake of reconciliation, he pleaded with victims for forgiveness on behalf of the late former president.

Speaking to the media after signing the book of condolence for the late former President, Sylvester Mensah called on Ghanaians and victims of the events of the Rawlings' regime to look past their pain, see his positive side and honour the memory of the late president.

“At this time of his departure, we can only mourn and appeal to those who have been victims of the excesses during his regime to have some space in their hearts to forgive. Times have been rough. The pressures, demands, and slogans when he emerged all fed into the excesses we saw at the time," he said.

"It is our wish that posterity will be kind to him. He had his positives and the others. It is important to look at the silver lining and give him the honour that he deserves,” he said.

He added that the death of the former President is a great loss to the nation.

“The nation has lost a great man, a visionary leader, one who has walked the face of this earth in a manner that no one has,” he noted.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings, 73, died on Thursday, November 12, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.