Former President Jerry John Rawlings has appealed to the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, and head of UNOWAS, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas,to take a cue from Pope Francis and kiss the feet of some of the Chokosies, the Konkombas and Nanumbas in Northern Ghana, and appeal for peace.
Speaking at a parade, wreath-laying and durbar to climax activities marking the 40th anniversary of the June 4 uprising at Nungua in Accra on Tuesday, former President Rawlings said: “Comrade Ibn Chambas, could take a cue from his eminence and attempt kissing the feet of some of the Chokosies, the Konkombas and his own Nanumbas, and appeal for peace’’.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings who praised Pope Francis on his efforts to resolve the South Sudan conflict, said: “When we throw our minds back to the recent image of the great and pious statesman, Pope Francis, going down on his knees to kiss the feet of warmongering ‘statesmen’, as a way of pleading with them to recognise and appreciate the value of life and the dignity of their own South Sudanese people, we are reminded about the abuse of power by so-called leaders and herdsmen all over”. He said.
The recent clashes between the two ethnic groups, Chokosis and the Konkombas over farmlands have claimed many lives, along with the destruction of properties, forcing people to flee the areas of conflict to neighbouring Togo and parts of the Northern Region.
Mr. Rawlings also has some words of advise for South Africa, saying:, “I would like to use this opportunity to remind our brothers in South Africa of the role we have all played in the past to bring about the change in that great country. Just as we were contributing to their liberation, the apartheid regime was also financing treacherous black Africans in our countries. The time has come for them to enhance the security of those who supported and stood by them in their struggle, by exposing the traitors who worked with Apartheid South Africa.”
He added that “These traitors ought to be exposed as they continue to treacherously parade themselves as patriots. It is not unheard of for certain African nationals to collaborate with western governments to rape their country of its resources. However, collaborating with an apartheid regime was not only unconscionable but extremely repulsive’’.
The event was on the theme: “Developing a National Character for Sustainable Good Governance” and was attending by leading members of the National Democratic Congress such as the National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, and a former General Secretary of the Party, Huudu Yahaya.
Others included both present and past Members of Parliament of the NDC, former ministers of states, cadres of the revolution and foot soldiers of the Party.
