Following the death of Former President Jerry John Rawlings, the NDC has been embarking on a series of activities in what it deems as an attempt to honour its founder. However, Dela Coffie, an aide to the former president, has cautioned the party against capitalizing on the death of Rawlings to score political points ahead of the December 7 general elections. He warned, “…those who think we’ll allow them to engage in political profiteering enterprise with the demise of President Rawlings must think again.”
His caution comes on the back of the strained relationship that existed between leading members of the NDC and Rawlings when he was alive. According to Dela Coffie, some members of the NDC who constantly humiliated Rawlings are shedding crocodile tears upon his demise all in an attempt to boost the electoral fortunes of the party.
He said, “Isn’t it even offensive to learn that those who consistently berated Rawlings over the last 12years, and called him “barking dog” are today claiming ownership of him as the founder of the NDC? It has suddenly dawned on you to fight for the same Rawlings that you lots recruited puppets to publicly humiliate and talkback at?”
It is worth noting that in his book ‘Working with Rawlings’, Professor Kwamena Awhoi recounted how he and other leading members of the NDC recruited some youth to talk back at Rawlings in an attempt silence him. These youth who Rawlings later referred to them as ‘babies with sharp teeth’ included Omane Boamah, Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Dela Coffie also hinted on calling out the hypocrisy of some of the leading members of the NDC in an explosive manner. That, he intimated, will be done at an appropriate time. He said, “We are grieving! And rightly so the family has requested for privacy at this difficult period. Then again, I feel like unpacking the hypocrisy of the likes of Asiedu Nketia. I really want to, but my thoughts are just not coming together. I’ll certainly find my rhythm, and when I do, it will be very explosive. In the meantime, the hypocrisy must stop. The attempt to cry more than the bereaved must also stop.”
With less than 20 days to the general elections, it remains to be seen how Dela Coffie and other avowed supporters of Rawlings would respond to the alleged hypocritical stance of the NDC.
