Dr Henry Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party is a “crazy” man, former President John Rawlings has said.
Addressing the 38th anniversary of the 4 June 1979 uprising in Wa, Upper West Region, Mr Rawlings said the son of the “domestication man” – late Dan Lartey – allowed himself to be used by even “crazier” people within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to accuse him (Rawlings) of corruptly gaining $5million from Nigeria’s late dictator Sani Abacha.
Mr Rawlings on Sunday insisted he got only $2million from Mr Abacha, which he used for “nationalistic purposes” and not $5million as alleged by Dr Lartey, flag bearer of the GCPP in the 2016 elections.
In July last year, Dr Lartey threatened to drag Mr Rawlings before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to test his self-acclaimed incorruptibility, saying the former military ruler lied to Ghanaians and Africa about the money he got from Mr Abacha.
Dr Lartey dared the former president to come clear on his comments during an interview with the Daily Graphic that he was not corrupt and his integrity was intact and unshakeable following allegations that he received $5million from the late Nigerian leader.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday 27 July 2016, Dr Lartey dared the former president to make himself available to investigations, if, in fact, he was incorruptible as he claimed.
“…We will take JJ Rawlings to CHRAJ for him to come and account to Ghanaians. Probity and accountability; we want to hear from him, so founder, come and tell us, please come and tell us how clean you are. We want to [ask]: ‘Are you clean, JJ Rawlings?’ Read my lips – JJ Rawlings, are you clean? If you are, don’t let us go to CHRAJ; you yourself, go to CHRAJ and say: this is my situation. We asked questions and he says: ‘Posterity will judge me.’ No, we want to judge you now, not posterity…” Dr Lartey stated.
“How much did Gaddafi give him? We know he was close to Gaddafi. How much did Gaddafi give him that we are not aware of? Probity now, not posterity. We (GCPP) want to win this power and help Ghanaians. We want to stop corruption now with JJ Rawlings. He is the father of probity [and] accountability, so we will start from him. He has lied to us, he has lied to his family, he has lied to the whole Africa, we are disappointed and I am disappointed with him.”
When Dr Lartey first made the allegation, Mr Rawlings challenged him to a juju test to establish the truth.
Speaking with some queenmothers including Mamaga Noviode of Sogakope (Leader), Nana Akyembaku Mansa from the Central Region, Nana Ama Serwaa from Ashanti, Nana Akua Gyasiwaa from Eastern, Mamaga Maamele from Klikor in the Volta Region, and Abesewaahemaa Nana Afia Gyamaa Pinsan, who paid a call on him at his residence in Accra, Mr Rawlings said he had prior knowledge of Mr Lartey’s planned attacks on him in connection with the alleged monetary gift.
According to him, Dr Lartey was paid by the NDC to “vilify me” in connection with the $5m gift controversy involving the late Nigerian leader and challenged late Dan Lartey’s son to a juju test.
“About three days before his drama, I got information that he was going to be financially rewarded for what he did and incidentally he was instigated not by people in the opposition,” Mr Rawlings revealed.
“Why are people worried about the level of integrity we’ve tried to maintain? We say we are Christians; we swear on the Bible, Muslims on the Qu’ran; I’d like to invite people like him (Lartey) that we go traditional as well. That we invite the white man’s technology (lie detector) to also come and verify the truthfulness, the integrity of my word. And for him to be simply asked who paid him to do what he did?” Flt Lt Rawlings urged.
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