May 15, 1979: The Spark that Lit the Flame to Save a Dying Nation

Every part of history, has its first spark of flame; and there is no denying the fact that the flames of June 4, 1979, December 31, 1981, the existence of the PNDC and now the NDC, all began with the spark of, Monday, May 15, 1979.

Today, Saturday, May 15, 2021, marks the 42nd year of the bursting of the young, energetic, enigmatic, Charismatic and gifted, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, onto the national and political landscape of the Republic of Ghana.

As we recall the events of May 15, 1979, we do so with a continued deep sense of the loss of the collosus, Jerry John Rawlings, on whose then thin shoulders the soul of the nation rested upon.

For the first time since 1979, we the cadres of the various Movements that led the struggles to rebuild the near-dead pillars of Ghana’s growth and development trajectory, salute the solid and unshakeable memory of His Excellency Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings.

We salute with cherished pride, the man who at various times, was, Head of State and Chairmanof the Armed ForcesRevolutionary Council (AFRC); Head of State and Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC); Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and first President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

The events leading to the May 15, 1979, Uprising, are well catalogued: A nation lost in the labyrinth of catastrophic corruption and conscienceless leadership needed to be saved from the throes of death.

An axphysiating nation needed to be saved; and a young Airforce Officer, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings heard the cry of the nation and decided to carry a heavy cross fully aware of the imminent dangers and possible repercussions of the actions of himself and his equally brave collaborators.

In all; the sheer raw bravery of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings caught the heart of a dying nation – leading to the near-total support for the June 4, 1979, Uprising, which did not only release the young Airforce Officer from military guardroom but also saved him and the whole nation from being tied to the stakes and shot by the moribund immoral governing leadership at the time.

When the young Airforce Officer took full responsibility for his actions and boldly bore the brunt of his position as Leader of the May 15 Uprising and told the military court marshal “… Let my people go; I am fully responsible for the actions of myself and my men…”, there was every reason for the dying nation to find energy to wake up and rally to the clarion call of June 4, for the “House cleaning exercise’.

As we prepare to commemorate the 42nd Anniversary of June 4, 1979, we the cadres wish to sate unequivocally that the spirit of Jerry John Rawlings is alive and shall live till the end of time.

The painful events of the past ought not be allowed to manifest ever again in the life of this dear nation of ours hence our fervent call on all the political parties as well as political actors to continue to be aware of the fact that the anger and feelings of the good people of Ghana can NEVER and should NEVER be taken for granted.

As a nation, we did not go through all the pains of the past only to allow the current Democratic dispensation to walk us backwards into such excruciating pain.

Let us all remain unmovably glued to a strong commitment to allow Ghana to grow in decency, and to also prosper in peace.

We must hold on to our motto of, Freedom and Justice.

We should not be interested in enjoying our Freedom while ignoring that it must be accompanied by, Justice. Any attempt to detach Freedom from Justice and vice versa, shall leave the nation limping on one leg.

While holding on to the motto of, Freedom and Justice; it will be remiss on our part not to fly high the tenets of, Probity and Accountability – the pivot around which the spirit of June 4 revolved and shall always revolve.

We dare not lose sight of the anchoring role that, Probity and Accountability played in getting Ghana out of its cataclysmic moments – and it is only by keeping the spirit alive that we shall sincerely move this nation to better and higher heights of positive all-encompassing development.

Within our political party establishments and also on the broader national stage, Probity and Accountability cannot and must not be treated as an afterthought.

Good people of Ghana, let us not conspire to kill our country.

Let us rather resolve to build our country; never ceasing to pray to God to help us build a Better Ghana and also keep us great and strong.

Jerry John Rawlings is no longer with us in flesh, but his strong spirit lives on perpetually with those of us who truly believe that despite his human flaws, he dedicated himself selflessly to serving the Motherland.

May the good soul of Jerry John Rawlings steadfastly rest well in the bosom of the Creator.

Indeed; cadres may come and go, but the Revolution to stay committed to always building a Better Ghana, has come to stay forever!

Aluta continua!!!

Comrade
Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere

Coordinator, Cadres And NDC Activists (CANA).

Saturday, May 15, 2021.