Life is tough, let us not make it tougher than it is—Rawlings

Former President Jerry John Rawlings is appealing to the political class of the country not to make life unbearable for Ghanaians as life in the country is already tough.

Giving a scenario to buttress his point, he said he once felt embarrassed when an elegantly dressed woman whom he gave money to hire a taxi told him that she would give the money to her daughter in school at Legon instead of using it to pick a taxi.

According to the former president, the lady’s action alerted him of the kind of hardship many people are going through in the country.

Mr Rawlings was addressing a gathering at the June 4th revolution commemoration held at Madina in Accra.

The durbar was open to all sympathisers of the June 4 uprising, the 31st December Revolution and members of the public.

The ceremony was used to reflect on the principles of the uprising, which were probity, accountability and patriotism.

June 4

June 4 is the day a section of the Ghana Armed Forces led by Flt Lt Rawlings staged a revolt against oppression and corruption in the country in 1979.

Flt Lt Rawlings led a group of junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces in an uprising against the then Supreme Military Council (SMC II) regime led by General F.W.K. Akuffo.

The move was motivated by a desire to stem the scourge of corruption that had engulfed the country at all levels and had led to a virtual breakdown of the economy.

Three months later, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), led by Flt Lt Rawlings, handed over power to an elected government.