A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Nicholas Amponsah has warned the ruling NDC against gagging or ignoring former president Jerry John Rawlings. He said ignoring the founder of the National Democratic Congress would be at the peril of the party. Speaking to Joy News, Dr. Amponsah said the party must understand that Mr. Rawlings is a principled person and must accept it. His comments follow public admission by former president Rawlings that there were cracks in the ruling party. Mr. Rawlings complained of mediocre ministers being appointed by the president whom he accused of being unassertive. According to him, many in the party especially those at the grassroots were disillusioned and disappointed at being left out in the government. But Mr. Rawlings’ comments pleased very few who think he is giving the detractors of the government ammunition. They have suggested the former president should be ignored. Dr. Amponsah told Joy News, that would be a disastrous move to make. He believes the party cannot stand without Mr. Rawlings. He said every conceivably important person in the country has at one point or the other sat with Mr. Rawlings which indicates there is something unique about the man. The Senior Lecturer holds the view that the contentious issues will sort themselves out. Reacting to the issues, the deputy General Secretary of the party, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah said the party has no plans of gagging the former president. He said it won’t be appropriate for the party to try to gag or ignore the former president. Mr. Afriyie Ankrah, who the Deputy Local Government Minister designate said the party must accept Mr. Rawlings’ style which is to publicly express his views on issues. He believes the issues raised were genuine but stressed the particular peculiar circumstance where the transition period was so short could be blamed for the difficulties. Story by Malik Abass Daabu