Social commentator and an ally of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, Dr Akofa Segbefia, has revealed that in the last days of his life, the former President was unhappy because of “what Ghana was drifting into”.
According to him, happenings such as corruption scandals in the administrations of both the NPP and the NDC hurt him so badly, that he felt his vision for the country was not being realized.
Speaking in an interview with Samuel Eshun on the special coverage of the late former President’s funeral, Dr.Akofa Segbefia shared: “In the last two years of his life, JJ was in pains; not physical pains. He hardly talked about his home when he spoke about things that were eating him up. It had to do with what Ghana was drifting into.
More often than not, it wasn’t about the NDC or the NPP. But it had to do with the country. What he sort to achieve for this country was not what was happening. At every turn, we are talking about corruption. Not corruption only under Akufo-Addo’s administration, but also under Mahama. Issues of corruption were being thrown all over the place. Those pains were because of his love for the country. Those things were eating him up inside”.
The late president’s friend shared that while he was troubled about what was happening in Ghana, former President Rawlings never had the plan to take over and change the situation. “His intention was never that ‘if this is what you are doing to the Ghana I left you then let me come back and take back the country’. No. He didn’t think about that. He was only lamenting which way the country was drifting”, he added.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings died on Thursday, November 12, 2020 after a short illness leaving behind a wife, former First Lady Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and four children.
Activities to mark the funeral of former President Jerry John Rawlings commenced yesterday with a Catholic Requiem Mass at the Holy Spirit Cathedral and a vigil at the Air Force Officers Mess in Accra.
The former President will be laid in state on Monday, January 25th, 2021 and Tuesday, January, 26th, 2021 at the Accra International Conference Centre for various groups and members of the public to have an opportunity to pay their last respects.
Prior to the laying in state, the Anlo Traditional Council will host two days of traditional mourning for the departed former President who hailed from Anlo.
The former President will receive a full military burial service on Wednesday, January 27 after which he will be interred at the Military Cemetery in Accra – the government’s designated burial ground for all former Presidents.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah
