Rawlings’ death was a thunderbolt to my family – Kufuor mourns
Former President J.A. Kufuor has expressed shock over the death of his predecessor, J.J. Rawlings.
He said the demise of Mr. Rawlings “came as a thunderbolt to us and our children.”
Mr Kufuor took over from Rawlings in January 2001 but relations between the two had always been icy.
But a day after his predecessor died, Mr Kufuor who became the second President of the Fourth Republic had some kind words about his predecessor.
“President Rawlings was the longest-serving Head of State since our nation’s independence in 1957, and even though it wasn’t always he and I agreed on many matters. I felt that he was always trying to do the best he knew and could under his peculiar circumstances,” he said.
“When the time came for him to step down as president on 7th January 2001, he obliged and obviously tried to contain whatever reservations he had about me and my government that succeeded him and his government, within the bounds of the national constitution of 1992” the statement read.
According to him, Mr. Rawlings adherence to the principles of democracy won him the admiration of many and earned him on the good side of Ghana’s history
“In his regard, whatever doubt persisted about his commitment to democratic rule to became attenuated and earned him a legacy of contributing to the sustenance of democratic governance of our country till his demise” he added in a statement.
Former President Rawlings has always had a frosty relationship with his successor, the rift between the two always had a way of igniting after several years of dormancy.
They both launch verbal attacks at each other once in a while, the lastest been Mr. Rawlings describing former President Kufour as a “constitutional terrorist”
He accused him of buying properties with state money.
“Nkrumah has left his legacy, the freedom, and Justice arch… I am saying that’s something he left. Do you want to know the one for Kufuor? Those Villagio villages”, Rawlings said with passion.
“…The Kufuor one. The Villagio villages were built on the waterway… the southern part of the motorway… why won’t others do it? Their houses and their factories… That’s his legacy! If he can do it, why can’t others do it? He blocked the waterway!” Rawlings said on November 5, 2019.
Former President Kufour struck back.
“…When Acheampong gave a bungalow to Nkrumah’s family, it was Rawlings who took the bungalow and gave it to D.F. Annan…When Fathia wanted to be buried beside her husband, we all know what Rawlings said about that”
…Someone built his hotel and later buys it. So Kufuor’s son bought African Regent, what is wrong with that?… What is he trying to achieve? We are talking about floods and you bring in Kufuor… You pick a grudge against Kufuor because he replaced you… You couldn’t have been president forever.”
He was survived by his wife and four children.
“We are left now to mourn him and also express our heartfelt condolences to his widow, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, their children, and the larger family.
“May he rest in peace in the mercies of the Lord God,” former President Kufuor’s statement said.