NDC, GCPP mourn Rawlings

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) have expressed shock at the demise of former President Jerry John Rawlings.

Both parties have also suspended their campaigns in honour of the father of Ghana’s Fourth Republican Constitution.

These were contained in separate statements issued by the two parties last Friday.

NDC

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, on the death of the party’s founder, the NDC directed that all its party offices throughout the country be draped in red and black while party flags fly at half-mast.

 “The NDC is in deep shock following the sudden demise of our founder Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former President of the Republic of Ghana. We honour the life of this bold, courageous and outspoken icon who was driven by a deep love for his country and the downtrodden,” it stated.

Funeral activities

It said at the party’s political committee meeting last Friday, it was also decided that NDC would “begin the funeral activities for the founder immediately and continue till his burial.”

In line with that, the statement said the committee directed that all regions, constituencies, and branches should organise appropriate funeral related activities at their various levels.

The statement said books of condolences were to be opened at the NDC national headquarters, regional offices, and constituency offices.

Rawlings’s convictions

It described former President Rawlings as someone who “lived a simple life and abhorred ostentation of any sort. It is, therefore, the intention of the party to organise funeral related activities in line with his long-cherished ideals and the principles he stood for.”

It pledged to uphold the principles its founder stood for.

“In pursuit of President Rawlings’ strong conviction of probity, accountability and transparency, the NDC will continue our fight to rid the country of corruption, nepotism and cronyism. We will not take our eyes off the ball until our goal is achieved,” the statement added.

 GCPP

In a statement signed by the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Henry Herbert Lartey, the GCPP said it had put its campaign on hold in honour of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.

The party, which was campaigning in the Ashanti Region when former President Rawlings died last Thursday, said it was struck with deep sorrow at the sad news.

It said the history of the country and especially the Fourth Republic could not be told without the deep footprints and enormous contributions of Mr Rawlings.

“This is not just a loss to the family but a loss to the whole nation, the African continent and the world at large. On behalf of the rank and file of the GCPP, I express our deepest and sincere condolence to the immediate family and pray to the almighty God for strength and comfort,” it said.

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