John Kufuor and Jerry Rawlings
FORMER PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor insists the late ex-President Jerry John Rawlings did not hate him.
“Former President John Rawlings did not hate me and that is my candid opinion,” Mr. Kufuor stated during an interview with Kumasi-based ‘Akoma FM’.
Mr. Rawlings, it would be recalled, was a strong critic of former President Kufuor, especially when the latter ruled the country for two consecutive terms.
The late President seemed not to have seen anything good during the eight years that Mr. Kufuor’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) government ruled the country.
It was then an open secret that Rawlings, perhaps, strongly abhorred Kufuor, hence the former’s continual critic of former President Kufuor, some without justification.
But according to former President Kufuor, he did not see Rawlings’ open attacks on him as a sign of hatred, as several Ghanaians tended to believe at the time.
The former President said he realized that the late President Rawlings loved political power so much; therefore he (Rawlings) did not feel comfortable when he left political office.
“Rawlings was obsessed with political power, hence his decision to insult my administration when I was in political office. It was not a case of hatred,” he said.
Former President Kufuor, who in January 7, 2001 succeeded Rawlings who had then stayed in political office for 19 years, said Rawlings loved political power so much.
According to him, despite having a somewhat unhealthy relationship with Rawlings initially, the relationship between the two statesmen improved later on.
“After I had left political office, my relationship with Rawlings and his wife positively improved,” Kufuor said, adding, he was saddened about Rawlings’ death.
Kufuor said despite entering into political limelight as a military man, Rawlings played significant roles to help deepen democratic practice in the country.
“Rawlings is credited for introducing the 1992 constitution and that is a big plus for him. He should be remembered for this great feat,” the former President said.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi