I was not groomed to “talk back” at Rawlings – Omane Boamah counters Ahwoi

Former Communications Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has described as “untrue” claims in Professor Kwamena Ahwoi’s book, “Working with Rawlings” that he was engaged to “talk back” at former President Jerry John Rawlings.

“As a young man and politician with core convictions, I was never engaged nor could I have allowed myself to be used by anyone to talk back at former President Rawlings,” he said in a statement issued on Facebook.

Prof Kwamena Ahwoi had said in his latest book–Working with Rawlings–that the NDC founder had fallen out with former President John Evans Atta Mills(now late) and was constantly attacking the personality of Mills.

Professor Ahwoi added that the attacks from Rawlings compelled Mills to resign as President.

According to Professor Ahwoi, it took four of them [Kwamena Ahwoi, Captain [rtd] Kojo Tsikata, Totobi Quakyi] to convince the then-president Mills to rescind his decision to resign as President.

He explained that he together with his team spent over four hours convincing Mills to abort his plans.

Prof Ahwoi indicated that their solution was to train and engage a group of young politicians, who were purposely to respond to and “talk back” at former President Rawlings for the latter’s attacks on the personality of Mills.

He mentioned those young politicians as Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Edward Omane Boamah, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

“Any time former President Rawlings attacked or insulted President Mills publicly, one of the younger members of the party would take him on publicly not with insults but logic,” Prof Ahwoi indicated.

The four young politicians are the ones Mr. Rawlings is said to have later referred to as “babies with sharp teeth.”

But in a response, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah said “Respectfully, I need to place on record that this claim is wholly and completely inaccurate and untrue”.

Prof Mills appointed Dr Boamah as the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.

Read full statement below

DISCLAIMER – PROF. KWAMENA AHWOI’S BOOK – “WORKING WITH RAWLINGS”

I have read excerpts of the Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi’s Book, “Working with Rawlings” that appear to suggest I was among a group of young politicians, who were purposely engaged by him and others to respond to and “talk back” at former President Rawlings for the latter’s attacks on the personality of the late President of Ghana, His Excellency John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.

Respectfully, I need to place on record that this claim is wholly and completely inaccurate and untrue.
As a young man and politician with core convictions, I was never engaged nor could I have allowed myself to be used by anyone to talk back at former President Rawlings.

My principled stand in defending the late President Atta Mills, without insults, against attacks I thought were underserved was borne out of my respect and appreciation of the personality of the late President Mills – the Asomdwehene, his pureness of heart and other sterling and unique qualities that he possessed to a fault.

The suggestion that my defence of the late President was part of a deliberate “strategy” by elders is irksome to me. It does not reflect my personality as a politician of conviction and not of convenience.

For the record, I state emphatically and unequivocally that any claim that I was a recruited participant in any such grand agenda could only be the result of an inadvertent error in recollection and not founded on anything that remotely resembles the truth.

SIGNED
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah
Former Minister for Communication
5th August, 2020