A book written and recently launched by one of the managers and backbone of former President John Dramani Mahama has set tongues wagging in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In the book titled, “Working With Rawlings” Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, mercilessly assassinated the character of former President Jerry John Rawlings in what some NDC kingpins believe is an attempt to destroy the political legacy of the party’s founder and expose him to public ridicule.
He indicated that John Mahama made mistakes in his tenure and will be better on his comeback ostensibly because the former President has agreed to be managed by the Ahwois.
However, the Chairman of the Volta Regional Council of Elders of the NDC and unrepentant ally of former President Rawlings, Mr Dan Abodakpi responding in his personal capacity, has described the content of the book as “wholly inaccurate or patently false”.
“Prof. Ahwoi and those supporting this slanderous and treacherous book are served notice that any attempt to misrepresent the facts behind the true story of the Revolution and the NDC Party to our people will be fiercely resisted,” Mr Abodakpi warned in statement sighted by THE CUSTODIAN.
Invitation rejected
Mr Abodakpi indicated that he refused to attend Prof. Ahwoi’s book launch as a form of strong protest.
“Prof. Ahwoi extended an invitation to me for the book launch. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend as a matter of principle. I have read some excerpts of the book and I am convinced that this is a perilous, ill-timed submission at this point in our Party’s history. It is in-fact, in several instances, a factually wrong and dangerous aberration likely to create tensions in and out. Is the objective of this enterprise to destroy President Rawlings political legacy? If so, then I can tell my brother and my friend that he is simply wasting his time”, Mr Abodakpi stated.
He questioned the motive of Prof Ahwoi in twisting the facts to denigrate the person of the Founder of NDC he claimed to love.
Mr Abodakpi served notice that he will not be an accessory to any grand agenda to delink President Rawlings from the NDC.
For instance, Prof Ahwoi claimed that late President Atta Mills almost resigned a few years into office because of some uninspiring utterances made by Jerry John Rawlings.
According to him, even though Mills had already concluded advances to make the historic decision, he eventually rescinded after conversations with him.
“There was one incident which nearly caused President Mills nearly to resign. In fact, he resigned. The only thing that saved this country was that he called to tell me that he was resigning.”
“I was at an IEA conference in Aburi when he called to ask me; have you heard what Jerry has gone to say about me in Tamale? I said no I haven’t heard and he said to get the audio and listen to it because I have resigned and I don’t want anybody to try to stop me…He had packed his things and all ready to leave on account of how Rawlings was treating him…” Prof Ahwoi told Mr Samuel Atta Mensah, host of Footprint Show on Citi TV, following the launch of the book, “Working With Rawlings.”
Professor Ahwoi, who recently indicated he brought Prof Naan Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the NDC and subsequently as the running mate to former President Mahama for the 2020 general election, is one of three Ahwoi brothers who have dominated in every NDC government and are currently the managers and special advisors to the party’s flagbearer.
Barefaced distortions
As part of the rebuttals, Mr Abodakpi said some narrations by Professor Ahwoi are distortions of facts.
“For those who know me in my political career, I have always believed in the right of all persons to express their views in a firm but respectful manner. However, when information is presented that is wholly inaccurate or patently false, it should be called out.
“I have the unfortunate task of placing on record a personal statement following the launch my good friend Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi of his book entitled – ‘Working with Rawlings’.
“I present my personal statement as I have become aware of some sections of the book attributed to me which are utterly false. One such example of inaccuracy, was incorrectly referencing my designation as High Commissioner to Malaysia under President Mahama. Please be informed that I was High Commissioner under our late President Prof. Mills and not President Mahama.
“Another utterly false representation is with regards to my views on the former First Lady – Mrs. Rawlings and her decision to contest President Mills. I have always maintained that the decision of the former First Lady to contest Prof Mills was not well thought through at the time and therefore not prudent. However, I would never describe her in so derogatory a manner as has been done in the book.
“I wish to state unequivocally that I will never be an accessory to any grand agenda to delink President Rawlings from the National Democratic Congress as the Party that he Founded. It is my considered opinion that many parts of the book that I have sighted, are not really factual. My very intimate historical knowledge of some of the key actions that shaped our Revolutionary/Democratic evolution and our current political status are not in question given my experience as a Member of the Political Committee and the Campaign Steering Committee. “Again, I question the motive of the author in twisting the facts to denigrate the person of the Founder of a Party he claims to love”.
Prof Ahwoi’s ingratitude
Mr Abodakpi said former President Rawlings does not deserve this kind of brutal attack by Prof Ahwoi.
“President Jerry John Rawlings may not be a ‘plaster Saint’ but he certainly he does not deserve this from people like Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi who quite frankly were gifted the privilege to participate in building on the foundations of sacrifice established by the Founder. I state for the record that I distance myself from any and all references made to me in this book.
“Prof. Ahwoi and those supporting this slanderous and treacherous book are served notice that any attempt to misrepresent the facts behind the true story of the Revolution and the NDC Party to our people will be fiercely resisted”, the statement concluded.
