'Rawlings not influenced by government support for his charity works'

The office of former President Jerry Rawlings has denied assertions that he has gone silent on the many ills of the society because of government support for his charity works.

A statement issued by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa, Secretary to the former President, said there can be no truth in the assertion by The Herald newspaper, explaining that the former President’s well documented charity works have enjoyed the support of all governments in recent years save for the J.A. Kufuor-led government.

The statement described the former President as someone who often speaks his mind and that “it is inappropriate, incorrect and inaccurate” to conclude that he has been influenced.

Below is the full statement

Dear Sir,

REACTION TO PUBLICATION ON FORMER PRESIDENT’S CHARITABLE VENTURES

The attention of the Office of former President Jerry John Rawlings has been drawn to a publication in the Friday, August 23, 2019 edition of your newspaper headlined, “Rawlings Confirms Receiving Goodies From Presidency”.

While acknowledging your attempt to inform the public about the former President’s charitable endeavours, we find it unfortunate and distasteful, the inference that owing to the support of the Chief of Staff’s office, the former President has remained silent on the many ills in the Ghanaian society.

It will interest you to know that the former President’s charitable gestures which are well documented, have received the support of past government Chiefs of Staff with the exception of President Kufuor’s. By virtue of his political nature and what he stands for as well as being the most accessible former President, he is literally inundated with requests for help. It will be blind of most governments to be unaware of the burden of these requests.

To conjecture that any form of support has the potential to influence the former President’s thought process is absurd. Former President Rawlings often speaks his mind and it is inappropriate, incorrect and inaccurate to make such unfounded conclusions from a statement released from our office on a presentation made to a former National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament who has dedicated most of her life to the good of her society.

Yours Sincerely,

Kobina Andoh Amoakwa
(Executive Secretary)