You can’t Break the 8 even with Ghosts Voting- Dr Obed Asamoah tells NPP
Former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Dr Obed Yao Asamoah has declared that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will suffer a huge defeat in the 2024 general election and no amount of political gymnastics would save them.
According to him the political mantra of breaking the 8 years rule is an illusion and that even if the NPP resurrect dead bodies to vote for them, they will still lose the 2024 election.
In his considered view,the onus rather lied on the NDC to win or lose if they fail to do what is right with their internal reorganisation to capture power.
Dr Asamoah made the declaration at the 43th Anniversary celebration of the June 4th uprising at Teshie in Accra.
Addressing cadets of the revolution and NDC party faithful as well as traditional leaders, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General as well as Foreign Affairs Minister said the NPP has not got what it takes to break the 8th, and that such political mantra would not materialised in Ghana.
“Today, I want to tell you (NDC members) that you should not be frightened by people who talk about breaking the 8. They cannot break the 8, even if they bring ghosts to vote for them. Anybody who says breaking the 8 , is just kidding himself.
“The NPP know they already lose the election, you can check, between the 2016 and the 2020 elections, President Akufo Addo has lost half of the people who voted for him.
“So 2024 election is for the NDC and there is no way we can lose the election.Even if the NPP brings ghosts to vote for them, they will still lose the elections,” Dr Asamoah stated.
He said the current economic hardship and other injustice prevailing in the country under President Akufo Addo administration are grounds enough for the people of Ghana to reject the NPP at the 2024 polls.
Recounting the political history of the June 4 uprising, Dr Asamoah said even though he was not directly involved in the 1979 uprising which brought Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, a then young military officer onto national issues, he got to know Rawlings and the June 4th ideals better when he was brought into the frontline during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime.
The former National Chairman of the NDC said the ideals of the June 4th and that of the PNDC which metamorphosed to the NDC have the same ideals which have even found it way into the 1992 Constitution.
Dr Asamoah said many of the leading members of the June 4th Revolution and the PNDC, especially former President Rawlings’ have laid down their lives to save the country and successfully promulgated the 1992 Constitution which brought political stability and constitutional rule.
He again charged the NDC members to close rank, work hard for the 2024 election victory is inevitable.
Other speakers at the event including Professor Joshua Alabi, 2020 NDC campaign Chairman, Dr Ekow Spio Gabrah, former Minister of Trade and Industry and Hon Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, former Greater Accra regional Minister and MP for Kpone-Katamanson Constituency.
Prof Alabi who spoke on behalf of President John Mahama condemned the ills in the current political regime led by Nana Akufo-Addo.
He charged Ghanaians, especially traditional and religious leaders, the media and the youth to stand up against the wrongs been perpetrated by the current NPP administration.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle and first Daughter of former President Rawlings condemned the Akufo Addo government for taking the nation back to the pre-revolutionary era.
According to her, the ills that brought the June 4, have rear their ugly heads in the country and Ghanaians must stand bold and speak against those ills which sought to benefit a few while the rest of the citizens live in abject poverty
She added that the democratic gains that have been chocked by persons who laid down their lives 43 years ago is being destroyed by corruption and nepotism, hence the need for Ghanaians to rise up for the truth.
Other MPs present who took turns to also address the gathering were Hon Ben Ayiku and Hon Naa Momo, MPs for Ledzorkuku and Krowor respectively.
Real story behind the June 4 uprising
On June 4, 1979, Ghana was ushered into its morning life with an announcement on radio by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings of a change in government by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). The June 4th Revolution, otherwise known as June 4th Uprising, arose out of corruption, bad governance and frustration among the general public.
Today in History, exactly 43 years ago, on June 4, 1979, Ghana was ushered into its morning life with an announcement on radio by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings of a change in government by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). The June 4th Revolution otherwise known as June 4th Uprising arose out of corruption, bad governance & frustration among the general public.
The June 4th Revolution otherwise known as June 4th Uprising
General I. K. Acheampong led a group of disgruntled army officers and usurped Prime Minister Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia’s government in 1972, and formed a government which they called The Supreme Military Council (SMC).
However, in 1978, General Acheampong was accused of economic mismanagement and forced to resign by a group of army officers led by General Akuffo.
On May 15, 1979, less than five weeks before the national elections, the then- Flt. Lt Jerry John Rawlings led a group of junior Ghanaian army officers in an attempted overthrow of the military government of General Fred Akuffo and the Supreme Military Council.
He was then arrested and imprisoned after he led a group of junior Ghanaian army officers in an attempted coup d’état against the military government led by General Fred Akuffo.
On the night of June 3, 1979, a group of junior officers including Major Boakye Djan and enlisted personnel of the Fifth Battalion and the Reconnaissance Regiment in Burma Camp staged a bloody coup and freed Rawlings.
An announcement was made early in the morning of June 4, 1979 at 6 a.m. on Radio Ghana of a change of government.
The voice which made the announcement later at 7.30 a.m. identified itself as that of Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings who was expected in the morning to appear before a court martial at the Burma Camp.
Today in History, exactly 43 years ago, on June 4, 1979, Ghana was ushered into its morning life with an announcement on radio by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings of a change in government by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). The June 4th Revolution otherwise known as June 4th Uprising arose out of corruption, bad governance & frustration among the general public.
The June 4th Revolution otherwise known as June 4th Uprising
He declared that he and some other ranks had taken over the Government and asked officers and men to report to Nicholson Stadium inside Burma Camp where election of officers would take place.
He invited all officers who knew they had nothing to fear to attend the meeting.
Barely an hour and half later, Major- General N. A. odartey-Wellington, Army Commander, announced on the air that an uprising which occurred in the early hours had been quelled.
He, therefore, ordered officers and men of the Armed Forces to return to their respective units while steps were being taken to return the Armed Forces to normalcy.
He then invited Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings and his supporters to meet him at the First Infantry Brigade headquarters at Kpeahie Ridge and promised there would be no arrests and victimization.
The lull which followed this announcement was, however, broken at 3.32 p.m. when a special Radio Ghana announcement said that Flight-Lieutenant Rawlings and his men had taken over control of the country.
Notable on the day was a display by Major- General N. A. odartey-Wellington. He entered an armoured car and single-handedly shot for three continuous hours. When he ran out of cartridges, he dashed to the Nima Police Station to surrender.
Unfortunately, he was killed on the spot by military officers immediately he came out of the armoured truck.
That incident marked the beginning of the uprising.
The June 4th Revolution otherwise known as June 4th Uprising
After the incident, all military installations were searched and senior military officers who were on the side of the Supreme Military Council (SMC II) were killed. It was on the same day that Col. Aninful, the president of the military tribunal that tried Rawlings and the junior officers on 15th May was killed. His wife and children, who were also in the same room, were shot. Many sympathisers of the previous government fled the country to seek asylum elsewhere.
The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) included a cross section of ranks from private and lance corporal to staff sergeant, airman, lieutenant, and naval commander.
The membership was as follows;
- Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings – Chairman
- Captain Boakye Gyan – Official Spokesperson
- Major Mensah Gbedemah
- Lt Commander Akpaloo
- Warrant Officer 2 Obeng
- Private Owusu Adu
- Corporal Owusu Boateng
- Leading Air Craftsman Gaktipo
- Lance Corporal Ansah Atiemo among other people.
Today in History, exactly 41 years ago, on June 4, 1979, Ghana was ushered into its morning life with an announcement on radio by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings of a change in government by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). The June 4th Revolution otherwise known as June 4th Uprising arose out of corruption, bad governance & frustration among the general public.
Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings
The AFRC ruled from June 1979 to September 1979. Power was handed to Dr Hilla Limann in September 1979. But Rawlings again overthrew Limann on 3Throughcember 1981.
Though June 4 or the June 4th Revolution, otherwise known as June 4th Uprising, became a noted date in Ghana’s history, it has been said to be a date that brings a lot of pain to people who either lost loved ones, lost businesses or had to flee the country for their dear lives.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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