Whatever be the final outcome of the visit by nine Eminent Citizens of the country to former President Jerry John Rawlings in connection with his participation in the country's Golden Jubilee celebrations, it should be a starting point for a more united Ghana.
On Thursday, February 15, 2007, a delegation led by the Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, on the mandate of President John Agyekum Kufuor, called on the former President to invite him to attend events slated for the celebrations.
With Prof. Adzei-Bekoe, were the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Archbishop of Cape Coast, the Chairperson of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Paul Fynn, the President of the National House of Chiefs, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, Ms. Cecilia Bannerman, Ms. Ama Busia, both members of the Council of State, Ms. Emma Mitchel and Professor Mirinda Greenstreet.
Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in attendance included its Flagbearer, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, the Chairman of the Party, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin, the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, a former Minister of State, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Grant, a former Eastern Regional Chairman of the Party, Mr. Fred Ohene-Kena, Mr. James Victor Gbeho, a former Minister and Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, former First Lady.
Reportedly, the three-hour closed-door meeting was held in an “open, candid and frank manner.”
As protocol demands, the outcome of the deliberations would go to the President before public consumptions.
Whether Ex-President Rawlings would accept the invitation extended to him would likely depend on President Kufuor’s reaction to the outcome of the discussions.
According to press reports, other issues raised at the meeting, related to the country’s development, unity and ways of exploring reconciliation.
Without looking for fine details of what went on at the meeting, The Standard is happy that the encounter took place at a time when the whole world is watching whether the nation would present a united front at its landmark Golden Jubilee celebration.
In our view, Ghana which prides itself as the gateway to Africa, and is now privileged to holding the Chairmanship of the African Union, should only be seen as a united nation and nothing else.
The meeting of the Presidential delegation with former President Rawlings at least, is an indication that our two leaders would put aside their differences, if they exist at all.
President Kufuor and former President Rawlings have several things in common, namely; the opportunity to lead our highly respected nation, they are both Christians and Catholics for that matter, with John as their first names.
We urge the two Presidents to forget the pain and hurts they might have nursed in the past, and lead the nation to celebrate a fitting Golden Jubilee.
It is on record that the Ex-President has ruled this country for about twenty years out of the total of 50 years of the nation’s existence and President Kufuor has been ruling the country for about six years.
In our view, the celebration should be national in outlook, involving all the political divide and all Ghanaians.
We should be able to prove to the world that we are a nation of one people with a common destiny which does not exclude anyone or political party.
The celebration of the Golden Jubilee should be a period of genuine and authentic reconciliation.
We urge former President Rawlings in particular, to reflect on the import of the message sent him by President Kufuor and react positively to it.
By taking part in some of the activities lined up for the celebration, Ex-President Rawlings would be helping to bridge our already polarised society.
Meanwhile, we appeal to the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) which has planned a Golden Jubilee Procession to coincide with the Golden Jubilee day on March 6, to fix another day for their event since several foreign dignitaries would misconstrue their procession as meaning that Ghana is not at peace with herself.
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