Let�s Not Toy With NDC�s Mandate � Rawlings Charges

Former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings says the NDC cannot afford to toy with its mandate to correct the corrupt past it inherited. He lamented that government is lethargic in taking the high moral ground and cautioned that if the government fails to seize the virtue of justice from the onset it cannot succeed in implementing its political agenda. Speaking during a solidarity call on him by a large delegation from the Korle Klottey constituency of the Greater Accra Region on Friday, former President Rawlings said: �2012 may be a problem if we do not change the corrupt tendencies. I am afraid if we do not act we will entrench a ruling class (NPP) on us, but we cannot allow that to happen. They destroyed so much but some of our brothers in government do not seem to realise the need to change the root of the NPP.� The former President noted that though the fire disaster at his residence was a distraction, he would not allow that to divert his focus on the myriad of problems facing the country. Former Accra Hearts of Oak Chairman and now constituency chairman for Korle Klottey, Harry Zakkour, on behalf of the membership donated a large number of foodstuff to the former first couple. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who received the items on behalf of the family thanked the constituency members numbering about 200 for their kind gesture and called on all who have memorabilia or documentation on the former first couple to present them to assist to rebuild their library. The former First Lady thanked God for saving their lives praising her second daughter, Yaa Asantewaa for waking her up from deep slumber adding that if she had not been around, a different story would have been told. Earlier the former First Family had played host to a delegation of chiefs and people from the Easter Region led by Regional Minister, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and his deputy Baba Jamal. On behalf of the region he donated food items and cloths to the former first family. Also at the burnt Ridge residence to share the former President�s pain were members of the diplomatic corps led by its dean, Togolese Ambassador Jean-Pierre Gpikpi-Beenissan. Ambassador Gpikpi-Benissan said the diplomatic corps were shocked by the fire accident and visited the Rawlingses to express their sympathy. Muslim Chiefs from Abokobi-Madina also called on the former first family to commiserate with them yesterday. On Thursday the Christian Council of Ghana also called on the former President and his wife to express their sympathies. The chairman, Rt. Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong Manso expressed the Council�s solidarity with the Rawlingses. Former President Rawlings thanked the Christian Council and charged them to monitor the mood of the nation and ensure that they advised government and other stakeholders to be sensitive to the plight of the ordinary people. Other who paid courtesy calls on Thursday were the American Ambassador to Ghana, Donald Teitelbaum, the Chiefs and District Chief Executives of Keta and Dzelukope, Togbe Afede, Paramount Chief of the Asogli Traditional Area, wives of senior army officers, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Barima Professor Azumah Nelson and the Ghana Insurers Association.