EX-PREZ RAWLINGS ACCUSES GOV’T OF COMPLICITY IN ANLO CHIEFTAINCY TROUBLES

Story: Victor Kwawukume, Akatsi

Ex-President Rawlings today accused government of complicity in the attempt to install an illegitimate person as paramount chief of the Anlo Traditional Area saying it was a deliberate attempt by the Kufuor administration to desecrate the sacredness of the Anlo stool.

Mr. Rawlings said that there were no factions in the Anlo chieftaincy problem but that it was the people of Anlo and the government of Ghana that are the only identified factions.

He said that the chieftaincy institution is the embodiment of the souls of the people of Anlo adding that government therefore, cannot use the police and military to illegally install a chief for the people of Anlo or anywhere in the country.

He was addressing a rally at Akatsi to outdoor new membership cards for the Ave-Avenor Constituency of the National Democratic Congress.

Ex-president Rawlings accused President Kufuor of being the brain behind the mayhem at Anloga recently saying it was an illegal act by the Kufuor administration to install someone who was no where near the throne.

He described it as an attempt to “desecrate the spirituality of the throne”.

On the 2008 general elections, he entreated party faithful not to think that there was going to be any free nor fair elections but that it was incumbent on them on them to work hard and ensure vigilance towards the NDC winning the elections.

He charged them to be careful in their choice of candidates to stand on the parliamentary tickets of the party saying they should choose people who are capable of winning the elections distinctly.

Mr. Rawlings warned that because the NPP knew that that they will not win next years elections, they have planned to resort to violence as a means of holding on to power.

He said that in the 2000 elections, the NPP did not have any money but succeeded in winning the elections through lies, deceit and ‘pollution of the people’s mind’.

In 2004, he said, the NPP were aware that the NDC was going to win the elections by 70 per cent and therefore resorted to all fraudulent means to rig the elections.

The only way for the party to be well placed to fight towards returning to power in the 2008 elections, he said, was through proper resourcing of the party and called members to be committed in the payment of their party dues.

He reminded them that the party belongs to them and that they should not allow anyone to take it away from them.`

Earlier, the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Modestus Ahiable called ob government to heed calls for the setting up of an independent judicial committee to bring out the truth in what occurred at Anloga on Thursday, 1, November, 2007 when youths of Anlo clashed with the Police when attempts were being made to install Mr. Francis Nyonyo Agboada as Awoamefia of the Anlo Traditional Area.

The clashes led to the death of three civilians and a police constable. One other person who was arrested as a suspect later died in police cells.

He said the Anlo Kingdom was indomitable and that no government or person would succeed in subverting it.

Mr. Ahiable assured the teeming supporters who patronised the gathering that God had not forgotten about them and that with hard work and industry, they would take over the reins of power come 2008.

For his part, the Member of Parliament for the Ave-Avenor Constituency, Hon Edward Doe Adjaho reiterated calls by independent bodies for the removal of Mr. Bernard Dery as Police Commander in charge of the Volta Region.

He also made remarks regarding the “hell” they went through in securing police permit to go ahead with the rally because the NPP had also planned a counter rally.

Mr. Adjaho called on members to endeavour to win members of the NPP who had become disillusioned by their party’s policies and programmes into the NDC saying the NDC stands for the truth.