Politics

Naming roads after undeserving personalities is an affront to the Ghana Armed Forces—JJ Rawlings claims

Naming roads after undeserving personalities is an affront to the Ghana Armed Forces—JJ Rawlings claims

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has called on authorities to be cautious about the names they give to roads as it ignites spite against some institutions and individuals.

According to him, there were roads in the country that were named after undeserving personalities, and called for change.

Speaking at the June 4 Virtual Durbar today in Accra, ex-president Rawlings stated that such actions were a spite on the Ghana Armed Forces and an affront to many.

He noted that there were many distinguished African figures including Ghana’s own General Akuffo, Commodore Boakye, Admiral Amedume, Colonel Mensah Gbedemah, General Erskine, General Nunoo-Mensah, General Arnold Quainoo, Commodore Boakye, Brigadier Alphonse Kojo Kattah, Ayikwei Armah and Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe and a couple more who merit such honour.

“In like manner, another administration desecrated the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and rendered it a sheer family cemetery,” the former president said.

He underscored the need for the people to be patriotic and refrain from corrupt acts.

“Fellow compatriots, we have hurt our own by institutionalising corruption for far too long; giving a little few the access to amass wealth at the risk of the livelihood of the ordinary citizens who are languishing in poverty and misery,” Rawlings lamented.

National monuments, groups, events, institutions and important state assets, he observed were labelled after some deserving individuals to inspire and direct subsequent generations on the good path they could emulate.

Former President Rawlings insisted that courage, spirit of patriotism, resilience and integrity in some instances served as a crucial reminder for history’s defining moments, adding that “in Ghana, these actions that subtly influences us are sometimes taken for granted.”

He urged the citizenry to be  compassionate and protect the country’s democracy as it was borne out of fire.

One of the key institutional arms of this democratic discourse from pre-colonial to modern day Ghana, ex President Rawlings posited was the protection of right and choice.

“We must endeavour as a nation to deepen the spirit of the consultative process, equity, respect for the rule of law or in simple terms, the tenet of democracy and multiparty democracy,” he added.

BY JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE

Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

An Entertainment Columnist, Content Writer, Blogger, Novelist, Poet, and a Publicist. For business or story tip off, contact me on +233 24 646 6866 or email: [email protected]

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