Many impressions created about Rawlings are false – Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin says a lot is said about former Speaker Jerry John Rawlings that is completely wrong.

The unfair impressions, he said, were aimed at tarnishing the late statesman’s hard-earned reputation.

“The image people painted of him [Rawlings] is not at all correct. He has an attentive ear, he respects seniority and authority and he has an endless passion for intellectualism.

“He respects the elites a lot. During the eight years that I worked closely with him, I studied him and it is very easy to understand Jerry John Rawlings, ”he said.

Alban Kingsford Bagbin further said the late former President Jerry John Rawlings was more respected by foreigners than his compatriots.

He made the revelation at a public conference on the legacy of the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Accra on Monday, January 25.

The conference was graced by a number of party officials, including former President John Mahama, President Ofosu Ampofo, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

In turn, former President John Mahama also made a clear appeal to his party base to stand up for Mr. Rawlings’ principles, ideals and successes in order to preserve his standing in the country’s political history.

He urged intellectuals and close associates of Mr Rawlings to uphold his principles and document his history to avoid distortions.

He said: “I dare say that with the death of JJ, the revisionists of our history will start again their work to try to denigrate the history of his life and his work.

“That’s what I’m saying unless those of us who knew and worked with him document his life and works for posterity, then hunter historians will write it down for us.”

He further indicated that the death of the founder of the NDC presents a real test of confidence among the members of the party because “it is now more than ever that we should close our ranks to ensure the survival of our party and our tradition” .

Jerry John Rawlings died of a short illness at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on November 12.

In accordance with the planned activities, Mr. Rawlings will be put in condition for 2 days; Monday January 25 and Tuesday January 26, at the Accra International Conference Center for various interest groups and members of the public for the opportunity to pay them a final tribute.