June 4 – Adomonline.com

NDC marks 43rd June 4 anniversary [Photos]

Gertrude Okyere — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 23:11:04 +0000

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has commemorated the 43rd June 4 uprising with a tree planting exercise.

The event, held for the second time without the party’s founder, Jerry John Rawlings, came off in the Oti Region.

It was led by the NDC Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the NDC’s 2020 Running Mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia and eight NDC Members of Parliament.

At the event, the speakers reiterated the uprising led by Rawlings in 1979 in Ghana arose out of a combination of corruption, bad governance, frustration among the general public and misunderstanding.

This, they bemoaned, is a situation Ghanaians are currently facing under the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government.

They said Ghanaians are going through difficulties, hence a need for revolution by voting them out in the 2024 general election.

June 4: Zanetor Rawlings sends strong message to political leaders [Listen]

Adwoa Agyeman — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 12:49:44 +0000

JoyNews/AdomNews · Ghanaians have to be careful to avoid mistakes that might lead to an uprising – Zanetor Rawlings

First daughter of architect of the June 4, 1979 revolution, Zanetor Rawlings has cautioned political leaders against mistakes that could create a fertile ground for recurrence of an uprising in the country.

According to her, leaders of the county have managed to undermine the principles of probity and accountability, a situation which led his father, Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings, to stage the June 4 revolution.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Kwesi Parker-Wilson in commemoration of this year’s anniversary of the June 4 uprising, the daughter of the late Statesman said: “I wonder if Ghanaians are being careful enough to avoid making mistakes that could result in a reoccurrence of the June Fourth Revolution. This is the most enduring republic we’ve had since independence and we must endeavour to protect it.”

She emphasised that Ghana’s 1992 Constitution is the envy of many countries, thus, needs to be protected, “we should not take our democratic dispensation for granted. Something as important as drawing up the 1992 Constitution under the consultative assembly which was inclusive. You had people from all walks of life. It basically was the people’s constitution. That is part of the reason why our constitution has been so attractive across the continent. Many countries have looked to us because of that.”

Zanetor Rawlings

The following three months led to a ‘housecleaning’ exercise after which elections were held and the mantle of political leadership handed over to the government of the People’s National Party, ushering in the Third Republic.

“But I’m asking myself, do we appreciate the fact that what led to the June Fourth Uprising was not just one man [Jerry John Rawlings] who got up and decided he was going to take over the reins of power. But there were circumstances that made those conditions favourable?”

J. J. Rawlings debuts lockdown hairstyle in viral photo

Gershon Mortey — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 17:25:12 +0000

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has spotted a new hairstyle when he made his latest public appearance on Thursday, setting social media on fire.

Mr Rawlings’ appearance comes as he addressed the public in a virtual celebration of the 41st anniversary of June 4.

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Check out former President Rawlings’ new look [Photos]

Gertrude Okyere — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 17:02:37 +0000

Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday spotted a new look when he addressed the virtual celebration of the 41st anniversary of the June 4 uprising.

Mr Rawlings who is usually spotted in a low haircut, this time spotted a bushy grey-filled hair and beard at the annual commemoration ceremony.

Papa Jay, as he is affectionately called, spoke at the ceremony themed strengthening the spirit of patriotism, resilience and integrity in difficult times.

General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Dan Abodakpi were spotted at the celebration.

Patrons observed COVID-19 safety protocols as they were captured in their nose masks to ensure there is enough social distancing.

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Step-by-step account: June 4 uprising through the eyes of Maj Boakye Gyan

On June 4, 1979, members of the military, drawn mostly from the junior ranks and inspired by mass social and public discontent, took over the governance of the country after it had sunk into a state of social, economic and political decay.

The following three months led to a ‘housecleaning’ exercise after which elections were held and the mantle of political leadership handed over to the government of the People’s National Party, ushering in the Third Republic.

Watch the photo below:

Former President Rawlings

Rawlings to address June 4 durbar Monday

Adwoa Agyeman — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 11:20:18 +0000

Founder President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, will deliver the keynote address at a durbar of cadres and activists to climax activities marking the 39th anniversary of the uprising on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the anniversary planning committee, the durbar will take place at the Madina Social Welfare School Park on Monday from 10am.

This year’s celebration is under the theme, “Re-organising towards the core values”.

READ: Soldiers beat 17-year-old student, father and mother

Other speakers at the event will include NDC party chairman, Kofi Portuphy, Dan Abodakpi, Fritz Baffour, Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Ebi Bright and Lawrence Lamptey.

Activities marking the 39th anniversary include a lecture which was held at the National theatre on Thursday May 31.

READ: Man gets 20 years for impregnating daughter

Monday’s durbar is open to all sympathisers of the June 4 uprising, the 31st December Revolution and members of the public.

Flt Lt Rawlings led a group of junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces in an uprising against the then Supreme Military Council (SMC II) regime led by General F.K. Akuffo. The move was motivated by a desire to stem the scourge of corruption that had engulfed the country at all levels leading to a virtual breakdown of the economy.

READ: Man gets 20 years for impregnating daughter

Three months later the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) led by Rawlings handed over power to an elected governmen

Hot audio: Bagbin, Haruna, Spio et al are “hypocrites”

Adwoa Agyeman — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 20:01:46 +0000

The Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as “hypocrites” some of the party leaders who graced the June 4 anniversary celebration.

Bernard Allotey Jacobs claimed majority of those who went have presidential ambition thus want to court the support of former President Jerry John Rawlings ahead of NDC’s flagbearership race.

For the first time in many years some notable members of the NDC graced the 38^th Anniversary of the June 4^,1979 uprising at Wa in the Upper West region.

Key among them are presidential hopefuls South, Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale, Nadowli-Kaleo MP Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, former Trade Minister, Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah Dr Benjamin Bewa-nyog Kunbuor, former NDC National Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei and many others.

When they got the opportunity, they urged NDC members to ensure the values of the June 4 Revolution are not eroded.

But Allotey Jacobs in an interview on Adom News said all the leaders went them for their selfish gains.

“It is hypocrisy and opportunism. A lot of the people who went there are presidential aspirants so they fighting to catch the eye of former President Rawlings” he stated.

The outspoken Central regional Chairman bemoaned how leading members have all of a sudden switched camp after President Mahama lost the elections.

“So far as John Mahama is no longer the president, that mystic aura around him is gone so they are shifting loyalty” he stressed.

Allotey Jacobs said he is not surprised seeing them around Mr. Rawlings because it is their character.

Play attached audio for more

Full text: Rawlings marks 38th June 4 anniversary

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:40:11 +0000

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has revealed that there had been times in the past when he had felt like leaving the party he founded and moving on but the plight of good people in the party had held him at bay.

At the 38th-anniversary of June 4 revolution, he spoke about how he is “greatly pained by the events of the past few days,” describing the killing of fallen army captain as “dastardly, wicked, irrational and needless murder of Captain Maxwell Mahama constrains me so much.”

Touching on the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s abysmal performance in last December’s election, “he said we lost our masses because we betrayed the values of June 4.”

“However if this horse – jockey business cannot be resolved comprehensively, allowing integrity to prevail, then let both of them step aside and allow for fresh leaders with solid integrity to provide the needed leadership,” he said.

Below is the full speech:

The Waa Naa, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo,

Distinguished Traditional Leaders,

Leading members of the NDC,

The proud people of Wa and sympathisers drawn from the length and breadth of the country;

Thank you for your warm welcome since I arrived in Wa yesterday.

The reception has been exceptional and charged. My special gratitude goes to Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo and the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs for the warm reception at the Palace and the honour done me with the enskinment as the Gbagala Pie Na, a title that signifies the very spiritual and unifying essence of Wa as a Kingdom.

The massive presence here during the season of the Ramadan fasting is indicative of the fact that the people of Wa still appreciate the true values of June 4 and uphold it with great pride.

Ladies and Gentlemen; I am greatly pained by the events of the past few days. The dastardly, wicked, irrational and needless murder of Captain Maxwell Mahama constrains me so much.

Nonetheless, I will share a few thoughts about the very importance of June 4 and most especially remind us of the underlining values and principles which guided the popular uprising.

The principles of June 4 are not alien or has never been alien to mankind. They are no different from the most basic religious or human values. Probity, accountability and social justice would on any day liberate the overwhelming majority of our people from the bondage or difficulties they find themselves in.

The fight against corruption, greed and avarice has however been at great cost. Noble soldiers have died; noble civilians have died for it and so many of the noble ones have suffered and continue to suffer all kinds of indignities for their principles and convictions.

Together with my wife, we have faced the most unimaginable consequences trying to protect and defend these principles.

Very cruel insults and humiliations have been designed and are still being designed to shed off any influence that I may still command even in the political party that was founded and built on the principles that guided June 4.

To the comrades whose tenacity has provided the voice of conscience within this country and the NDC, I am profoundly grateful. There have been times in the past when I felt like booting this party and moving on; the only thing that has however prevented me from doing so is the plight the remaining good people would face.

Such a departure will allow the agents of greed, and avarice and dishonesty to further deepen their claws on you and the party. We squandered many opportunities to clean up and to restore the June 4th principles in the party. I want to remind people that we could not have possibly forgotten that Generals were executed.

The greed, corruption and injustice of today is a thousand times more than what these Generals were executed for and if we are unable to restore a firm measure of integrity into our dealings, then the blood of many would have been shed in vain. If we cannot get our claws off and allow for fresh leadership to emerge then we shall sink further.

Not too long ago I thought we heard the jockeys claiming the horses were responsible for this disgraceful failure while one of the horses was bold enough to lay the failure at the doorstep of the jockeys.

For me, we lost our masses because we betrayed the values of June 4. However if this horse – jockey business cannot be resolved comprehensively, allowing integrity to prevail, then let both of them step aside and allow for fresh leaders with solid integrity to provide the needed leadership.

Let us endeavour to stand by the truth and restore and instill the values of June 4 in our country’s culture. Ladies and gentlemen; yesterday when I paid a courtesy call on the Wa Naa and members of the Regional House of Chiefs I called for unity and peace in your communities.

This morning the President of the Queenmothers reiterated that call by pleading for peace to guarantee development. Most of you are not unaware of the simmering undercurrents within your communities. Do not allow differences that can be resolved with consultation and compromise to degenerate into bitterness and potential conflict.

This call is not unique to only Wa and its related communities. This is a call to the whole country. Quite a number of lives have been lost in the recent past due to our failure to resolve our differences and an increasing canker of intolerance.

Ghana prides itself in the peaceful co-existence of persons of diverse, ethnic, religious and political persuasions and we cannot allow that reputation to be compromised. Distinguished Traditional leaders and all gathered here today; Ghana needs us to stand up for what is right, just and positive for our growth and development.

The socio-political development of Ghana is dependent on our consistency in defending the ideals of truth, integrity, probity and accountability. Let that be our guiding principle in everything we do. I thank you so much for your presence and goodwill and wish you all the best in all your endeavours.

Thank you.

Hot audio: ‘Mahama ‘sickening greed’ cause of NDC’s defeat’

Adwoa Agyeman — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:34:32 +0000

Former President Jerry Rawlings has marked the 38th anniversary of June 4 uprising with a fiery monologue castigating the erstwhile Mahama administration which he labelled as a government of ‘sickening’ greed.

Struggling to restrain himself, the former president spoke about why the party lost the 2016 elections by a margin he described as a “disgraceful failure”.

Listen to Jerry Rawlings

June 4th is Ghana’s second independence – Rawlings

Adwoa Agyeman — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:33:23 +0000

As he commemorates 38th anniversary of the June 4th Uprising, a popular and violent uprising in Ghana in 1979 that arose out of a combination of corruption, bad governance, lack of discipline in the army and frustrations in the army and among the general public, the main architect believes it is the second independence of the country.

During a courtesy call on the Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV at his palace on Saturday June 3, 2017 ahead of the commemoration, Former President Jerry John Rawlings underscored the significance of the event in the history of the country

He said “we all know how important June 4th is to us. It is pretty much like a second independence to liberate ourselves from ignorance of the past and from some of those oppressive tendencies. I am so truly happy to find the Wa Naa, our dear paramount chief and most of you in good health. I sincerely hope you continue this way to give us the guidance and leadership we need”, he said.

He expressed worry over recent tensions within the Wa municipality over a parcel of land and commended the chiefs and security agencies for containing the situation and ensuring it did not degenerate into violence.

The former President is in the Upper West Region to commemorate the 38th Anniversary of the June 4th uprising under the theme “Restoring the Values of Probity, Accountability and Truth in Contemporary Governance”

He was met on arrival by members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region, Cadres and former Ministers as well as District Chief Executives from the region.

Mr Rawlings will address supporters of the NDC at the Tindamba Primary School on Sunday afternoon.

June 4 celebrations: Former President Mahama extends felicitations to Rawlings

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 15:59:25 +0000

Former President John Dramani Mahama has extended his felicitations to the Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) HE Jerry John Rawlings, members of the NDC and cadres of the revolution on the occasion of the 38th Anniversary of the June 4 Revolution.

June 4, as one of the recognized anniversary days of the NDC, is a Day of Accountability, and according to President Mahama, this year’s celebration is coinciding with the 25th Anniversary of the NDC which falls on June 10.

“We therefore have another opportunity of the twin events to rededicate ourselves to the values of the June 4 Revolution, which brought into being the 31st December Revolution and the National Democratic Congress”, the former President said in a statement signed by Special Aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari.

Mr. Mahama, who attended a lecture in Accra on Friday as part of the celebration, will however not be in Wa. Mrs. Mogtari explains that a double tragedy of deaths, one a nephew, Capt. Maxwell Mahama, and the Chief of Bole, has placed some responsibilities on the former President.

The statement encouraged all members of the Akatamanso Family to join in the activities of the June 4 Anniversary scheduled for Wa in the Upper West Region on Sunday.

Rawlings to address grand June 4 durbar in Wa

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 07:06:17 +0000

The leader of the June 4 uprising and Chairman of the AFRC, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings will be the keynote speaker at a grand durbar in Wa on Sunday June 4, 2017 to climax activities marking the 38th anniversary of the uprising.

According to a statement issued by the June 4th Anniversary Planning committee on Thursday, the former President will arrive in the Upper West regional capital on Saturday with a courtesy call on the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs at the Wa Naa’s palace.

On Sunday June 4, 2017 the celebratory event will commence at 8am at the Tendamba JHS Park with the laying of wreaths and the lighting of a perpetual flame in memory of the fallen heroes.

The celebration which is under the theme, “Restoring the values of Probity, Accountability, and Truth in Contemporary Governance,” will also see Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, Rashid Pelpuo MP for Wa Central, Political Activist, Madam Ebi Bright, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya and a host of others address the durbar.

Members of the public and all sympathisers of the June 4 uprising and the 31st December Revolution are invited to participate in the anniversary event.

Rawlings takes June 4th to Wa

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Fri, 12 May 2017 08:44:56 +0000

Former President Jerry John Rawlings is expected to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the June 4th Movement in Wa, the Upper West regional capital, this year.

The theme for the celebration, DAILY GUIDE understands, is ‘restoring the values of probity, accountability and truth in contemporary politics’, even though the celebration appears to have lost momentum in recent times.

A 13-member local organising committee chaired by Alhaji Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Member of Parliament for Wa Central, and comprising of party executives, United Cadres Front, 31st December Women’s Movement, young cadres, party communicators and youth groups, has been inaugurated to see to the successful organisation of the event, according to a statement issued by Saeed A. Faruk, a member of the publicity sub-committee for the event.

The statement indicated that the event is coming to Wa for the first time in the history of the movement.

The inaugural ceremony was witnessed by four key members of the central planning committee, namely Comrade Komla Nyaku, Dr Akwesi Senanu Dzokoto, Dr Donald Agumenu and Comrade Paul Boateng.

“Following the inauguration of the local organising committee, six sub-committees have been formed and assigned responsibilities geared towards making this year’s event an exceptionally historic one,” the statement stated.

June 4, 1979 was the day junior officers of the military, inspired by Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, who was himself ostensibly disconcerted with the impunity of the abuse of power showed their revulsion and rejection of the endemic corruption, ineptitude and nepotistic practices and attitudes in every sphere of the Ghanaian society.

Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, the leader and founding father of the movement, along with key individuals associated with the June 4 tradition across the political divide, will be in Wa for the celebration. Expected also is the immediate past President John Dramani Mahama and some prominent members of the National Democratic Congress who will be there to grace the occasion, the statement said.