Mr. Jerry John Rawlings, founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), last Sunday gave the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, a cold shoulder, at Jirapa in the Upper West region, to the surprise of many observers. The Vice President and his former boss virtually ran into each other at the final rally to solicit votes in the Jirapa bye-election for the seat left vacant after the death of Edward Salia, former MP of the area. What was noticeable was that for the entire duration of the rally, while the two gentlemen sat at the same table, they looked in different directions after exchanging what many described as very unusual pleasantries. Not even the Vice President’s fine speech, which attracted thunderous cheers, could force a smile out of the former President, who sat gazing straight at the cheering crowd. After John Mahama’s address, all those seated at the frontline on the high table stood up to shake hands with him except Rawlings who sat ‘stone-faced’. The two men occasionally supported their jaws with their hands, in a ‘Mills Mobile’ pose, and then when he delivered his speech, Rawlings acknowledged the Jirapa Naa and members of the Council of State but failed to recognize the presence of the Vice President of Ghana, raising suspicion that the two were indeed on a war path. Vice President John Mahama was first to arrive at the Saint Joseph’s school park. A few minutes later, Mr. Rawlings and his entourage also arrived, attracting a loud roar from party supporters who had gathered there to catch a glimpse of him. Characteristically, the former President raised a clenched fist in the air and responded to cheers from the crowd in the company of the Jirapa Naa, Peter Nanfuri, former IGP, who was in his entourage. On reaching the high table, Rawlings shook hands with all including the Vice President, but in a manner that suggested there was bad blood between them. After taking their seats, both gentlemen failed to even utter a word to each other, which was expected of the two leading members of the ruling party. Rawlings initially whispered some words into the ears of NDC National Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, who was seated next to him on the left, while the Vice President was on his right. As the programme progressed, the Vice President also intermittently had a tete-a-tete with Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, a Member of the Council of State, who was closely seated to him on the right. During his speech, which sounded revolutionary, Rawlings reminded party supporters that though the party was currently in power, it was more vulnerable to self-deceit than any other party. He took a swipe at the Mills Administration for taking too long to prosecute alleged corrupt officials of the previous government. Any further delay, he said, would rob the government of public sympathy and as well open the floodgates for incompetence and other dastardly acts since perpetrators might go unpunished. According to him, “the NDC had gained power but could not smell it; it gained freedom but was denying itself justice”. He accused the Mills’ government of planning to field incompetent Metropolitan/ Municipal and District Chief Executives who were clear failures, and had no sense of direction on how to build their districts, saying the appointment bodies could never get away in such instances. According to him, haphazard appointments could be accepted at the higher levels but not at the grassroots, warning of looming danger. Rawlings called on President Mills and his government to exhibit some sensitivity and responsibility in some particular appointments in order not to further plunge the country into chaos. Descending heavily on the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the ex-President described them as a gang of irresponsible criminals who cheated and looted state coffers. He accused them of discouraging persons from engaging in family planning thereby unnecessarily increasing the country’s population and fueling poverty and under-development in some sectors of the economy. Ghana, to him, would have been richer than its present state if his advice on family planning years ago, had been heeded but Ghanaians allowed themselves to be deceived by the NPP. The previous administration, he said, capitalized on the ignorance of the masses, particularly in some NPP strongholds in Ashanti, to increase the country’s population. This, he indicated, was meant to increase the NPP’s support to maximize votes in gaining power. “When I said family planning, the NPP deceived the country and said ‘mon wo ba! Mon wo ba!’ meaning ‘give birth, give birth.” He also accused them of over invoicing governmental projects on road construction and accrued cash for themselves. The failure of the erstwhile government to give consideration to road construction in the northern regions, he claimed, was meant to fan divisions and disunity among the people. The former President advised party faithful to cherish and protect the power the party gained since the people had lost confidence and credibility in the NPP, saying they never wished it back in power. Mr. Rawlings however warned the supporters that signs were beginning to show that the NDC was sliding down the slope and needed to be checked, stressing that he would not continue to live comfortably in a country that could not differentiate evil deeds from good ones. Throughout his 20-minute speech, he incited the people against the previous government and fanned a lot of tribal sentiments charging the atmosphere as a result. Source: Daily Guide