By Iddi Yire
Accra, Feb. 7, GNA – The J J Rawlings Foundation has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to investigate unsavoury comments on former President Jerry John Rawlings and his daughter Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey Korle.
Madam Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings, the Executive Director, JJ Rawlings Foundation in a petition address to Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, said the Foundation had learnt with absolute disbelief the unprintable words (allegedly) uttered by a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament against the late former President Rawlings and his daughter, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday February 4, 2025.
“Mr Speaker, the toxic and untruthful comments were not only an indictment on Parliament but on the entire country,” the statement said.
“It exposed a desire by a select few Members of Parliament to hide under the guise of the August House to provoke a toxic atmosphere within the political environment.”
The statement said former President Rawlings was the first President of the Fourth Republic and was instrumental in nurturing the current political dispensation, which was the longest and most successful in our country’s history.
It said his exceptional sacrifice, selfless leadership and unrelenting commitment to rebuilding our political and socio-economic fabric was evident from his first emergence onto Ghana’s political scene on May 15th 1979 and throughout his chairmanship of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), into the 4th Republic as Ghana’s First President of the Fourth Republic.
The statement said former President Rawlings took difficult decisions that Ghana required to uplift her out of political and economic turmoil.
It said he took a tough stance on right and wrong at a time when Ghana had lost her societal moral fibre.
He was indeed ‘Ghana’s Strong Man’ which allowed others the luxury to be weak on unpopular and tough decisions.
The statement said internationally former President Rawlings was admired and recognized for his commitment to a participatory leadership approach and his anti-corruption credentials.
“It is totally dishonest for anyone to attempt to reduce his legacy in one misguided moment of flippancy,” the statement said.
The statement said Dr Agyeman-Rawlings had been an effective, efficient and reliable MP since 2017.
It said more so holding on to her seat as an opposition Member of Parliament and winning three times in a row was no small feat.
It said for a colleague MP to crudely shut her down during Parliamentary proceedings exposed his misogyny and bias against women, but more so, it was a matter of gross abuse and disrespect that could not be ignored.
“Mr. Speaker, it is disheartening and disturbing when the House that is expected to protect the image and reputation of past leaders of this country who worked hard to maintain and protect institutions like Parliament, receive abuse and offensive behaviour as occurred on Tuesday February 4, 2025.
It said as an institution formally established to record, protect and highlight the enduring legacy of former President Rawlings, they on behalf of millions of Ghanaians formally petition the Parliament of Ghana to investigate the matter and compel the offending Member of Parliament to acknowledge responsibility and retract the defamatory remark which was inflammatory, despicable, unconscionable and disgraceful.
The statement noted that urgent action on the matter would be appreciated.
GNA