NDC marks June 4 - First commemoration without Rawlings
Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday marked the 42nd anniversary of the June 4, 1979 uprising with a public lecture at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
Held on the theme: "the relevance of June 4 to the contemporary Ghanaian democracy," the ceremony was also used to celebrate the memory of the founder of the party, the late President Jerry John Rawlings.
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It is the first celebration of the event which gave birth to the NDC without the presence of its founder.
Speakers at the event included the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Dr William Ahadzie, Mr Fritz Baffour and Mr Dan Abodakpui.
Others included Dr Benjamin Kumbour, Mr Kofi Attoh, Mr Shine Gave and Ms Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings.
Wreath laying
Prior to the lecture at the party’s headquarters, a wreath laying ceremony was held at the Dr Bannerman Park, Korle Gonno, in Accra where the daughter of the late founder of the party, Dr Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings, who also doubles as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Korle Klottey, lit the perpetual flame.
Present at the occasion were some dignitaries of the NDC, notable among them were the National Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; MP for Ablekuma South and a former Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, as well as a leading member of the party, Prof. Joshua Alabi.
Inclusion
Speaking at the lecture, Mr Ampofo assured members of the party and those who participated in the uprising that the party would rope all of them in the activities to ensure unity in the party.
He said the time had come for the NDC to come together and rise to build the party to enable it to win back political power to govern the country.
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"Let us go out there and take the party to the doorstep of the people because if the people have the power, this party will have the power," he said.
Ideals of June 4
For his part, Mr Nketiah said the triggers of the June 4 1979 revolution were creeping back into the country.
He said corruption, indiscipline and the misuse of public funds among other things which were the main triggers of the revolution were rife in the country.
Other speakers called on the party members to remain dedicated to the ideals of the revolution and stay committed to the principles of the founder of the party.
Dr Kumbour told members of the party not to mimic the ways of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but rather remain true to the ideals of the founder of the party.
"That is what separates the NDC from all political parties, mimicking the NPP will not take the party far. If you want to win a game, set your own rules, “he said.
Commemoration
The Director of Elections of the NDC, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, stated that the party would continue to commemorate the June 4 revolution, in spite of the demise of its architect, former President Jerry John Rawlings.
“We will continue to celebrate June 4 and we will continue to do that in perpetuity because the principles of probity, integrity, accountability, and social justice that he espoused are more relevant today than even on June 4th, 1979,” he said.
Background
On June 4, 1979, members of the military, drawn mostly from the junior ranks and inspired by mass social and public discontent, took over the governance of the country.