The Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jerry John Rawlings, says he finds it very difficult to believe why some members of the umbrella family are still bent on tarnishing his image by peddling falsehood about him.
According to the former Ghanaian Head of State, he has no intention of instigating the formation of a new political party as reported by www.ghananewsonline.com.gh.
On Monday, January 21, 2019, www.ghananewsonline.com.gh reported that there are some top NPP officials including the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, certain persons close to the founder of the NDC, the founder of the NDC himself, were in talks towards the formation of a new political party ahead of the 2020 election.
The formation of the new political party, according to the online news portal, is part of President Akufo-Addo and “his NPP’s agenda to weaken the base of the NDC before the 2020 general elections”.
However, in a statement released by the Communications Directorate of the Office of the former Ghanaian Leader dated Wednesday, January 23, 2019, Mr. Rawlings said there is no iota of truth of that publication and urged the general public to treat the report with the utmost contempt that it deserves.
He suspects those behind the news report which has since gone viral on social media and some mainstream media, are the same few people who planted fabricated news stories in the media in the run up to the 2016 general elections with the intent of tarnishing his hard won reputation.
“The carefully crafted falsehood is unfortunately the creation of a small element within the NDC keen on manipulating the minds of party faithful. This is not the first time they have attempted this kind of political trickery and falsehood. In the run up to the 2016 elections the same devious elements planted such fabrications in the media. Unfortunately they have not learnt from the party’s humiliating loss and have sharpened their arsenal for yet more fairytales. We urge the media and social media managers to confirm such reports with this office before publication”, the statement in part read.
Below is the full statement:
PRESS RELEASE
January 23, 2019
RE: REPORTS OF FORMATION OF NEW PARTY
The attention of the office of former President Jerry John Rawlings, has been drawn to a story making the rounds on social media and some mainstream media, that he has instigated the formation of a new party; a breakaway from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The office urges the general public to treat the report with the utmost disregard and contempt.
The carefully crafted falsehood is unfortunately the creation of a small element within the NDC keen on manipulating the minds of party faithful.
This is not the first time they have attempted this kind of political trickery and falsehood. In the run up to the 2016 elections the same devious elements planted such fabrications in the media. Unfortunately they have not learnt from the party’s humiliating loss and have sharpened their arsenal for yet more fairytales.
We urge the media and social media managers to confirm such reports with this office before publication.
Issued By:
Kobina Andoh Amoakwa
(Communications Directorate)
