Rawlings urges Ghanaians to change attitudes towards the environment

Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday advised Ghanaians to change their attitude towards the environment in order to safeguard it for posterity.

“It’s about time our developmental conversation was one that included a forward sustainable goal aimed at future generations’ access to clean air, water and environment. Our discipline of today guarantees our sustainability for tomorrow,” Former President Rawlings stated at a parade, wreath-laying and durbar to climax activities marking the 40th Anniversary of the June 4 uprising at Nungua in Accra.

“Our current sense of self-discipline is at its lowest ebb. Citizens do not feel responsible enough to keep their homes and communities clean,” he said.

“Many of us who lament about flooding during the rainy season are guilty of the indiscretions that lead to the deadly floods. We dump refuse indiscriminately and wonder why drains choke. Some actually see the rains as an opportunity to dump refuse, believing the rainwater will sweep them away.”

He warned that if Ghanaians continued this level of lawlessness, the nation was bound to face more serious flood disasters. He said the key to national development was a heightened self-discipline in approach to everyday life.

“Let us all do a thorough introspection and identify where we fall short because we all do fall short one way or the other,” he said.

The event on the theme: “Developing a National Character for Sustainable Good Governance” was attended by leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), notably the National Chairman Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, General Secretary and Mr Huudu Yahaya, a former General Secretary of the Party. Others included; both present and past Members of Parliament of the NDC, former ministers of states, cadres of the revolution and foot soldiers of the Party. Other speakers at the event included; Mr Asiedu-Nketia, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle Constituency and Mr Edem Agbana, Deputy National Youth Organiser of the NDC. The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) led by former President Rawlings (then Flight Lieutenant) was in power from June 4, 1979 to September 24, 1979. It came to power through a coup that removed the Supreme Military Council,another military regime, from power. The June 4 coup was preceded by an abortive attempt on May 15, 1979 when former President Rawlings and other ranks were arrested. Their trial only served to make them popular till they were eventually released on the morning of June 4 by young officers and non-commissioned officers inspired by former President Rawlings.

The regime started a 'House cleaning' exercise against corruption.

Three former military leaders of Ghana, Lieutenant General Akwasi Amankwah Afrifa, General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and Lt Gen Frederick W. K. Akuffo were all executed together with five other senior officers deemed to have been corrupt by the special courts set up by the Government.

The AFRC allowed already scheduled elections to go ahead and handed over to the duly elected Dr Hilla Limann of the People's National Party (PNP) who became the only President of the Third Republic of G