Ex-President Rawlings in a handshake with Otiko Djaba
EX-PRESIDENT JERRY John Rawlings was loudly applauded at the Mamfe Methodist Girls’ High School in the Akuapem North municipality of the Eastern Region when he claimed that the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba, is someone who really inspires him anytime she delivers a speech.
Ms Otiko Djaba was eulogized by the former president after she had delivered a speech at the above-mentioned school’s 4th Speech and             Prize-Giving Day celebration last week.
Mr Rawlings, founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), had earlier declined to speak at the event but quickly decided against his stand and within seconds after Madam Otiko Djaba had concluded delivering her address, he openly said, “The Hon Gender Minister has really inspired me and now I feel better to make a few remarks.”
The former president added his voice to the clarion call by Otiko Djaba on Ghanaians, especially the youth, to maintain discipline and contribute to the development of Ghana as patriotic citizens.
He recalled that when he was an Air Force pilot flying a plane through a village, he saw how green and beautiful some parts of the country was and decided to draw closer only to realise that those areas were schools.
This, he stressed, showed how disciplined students were in those days, and questioned why the situation is different in the Ghanaian communities today.
Mr Rawlings, who had earlier inspected a parade mounted by the students, touched on how filth continued to engulf the nation as a result of growing indiscipline among the citizens.
He bemoaned how chiefs, community leaders and the youth were shirking their responsibilities, and called on every Ghanaian to help towards the development of the nation.
At the Mamfe programme, Ms Otiko Djaba represented President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to deliver a keynote address under the theme, “Discipline; a Prerequisite for Academic Excellence, Stakeholders’ Take.”
She encouraged the students to be more disciplined, stay away from early sex, teenage pregnancy and peer influence, charging them to study hard so that they do not drop out of school.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Mamfe