Former President Jerry John Rawlings says his successor, John Agyekum Kufuor, would not be a free man but for the tolerance of Ghanaians coupled with the country’s poor justice system.
Mr. Rawlings, who had earlier accused Mr. Kufuor of being responsible for the perennial floods in the capital city, appears to have been rubbed up the wrong way after the later in a response described him [Rawlings] as a hypocrite.
Rawlings had accused his successor of leaving a legacy of impunity that has encouraged individuals to indiscriminately site buildings in waterways.
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“The Kufuor one, those Villagio villages and those things built in waterways…so if he can do it why can’t others do it…build their houses and factories on the southern side of the motorway where it blocks the waterway,” furious Rawlings quizzed last Thursday, when the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) paid a courtesy call on him.
But Spokesperson for Mr. Kufuor, Dr Kwabena Osei Adubofour dismissed claims that his boss supervised the building of hotels and luxury apartments in waterways in Accra.
Dr Adubour said once there is a department that is mandated to do that job if any individual or business entity is able to get a permit to put up whatever building, it is not for Mr Kufuor to answer.
He then took a swipe at Mr. Rawlings, claiming he should be the last person to speak about integrity.
“He [Rawlings] talks about integrity? You know, that is like the pot calling the kettle black…He is the last person to talk about integrity,” Mr. Kufuor’s spokesperson said in an interview.
In a tweet on Monday, Mr. Rawlings said he has been advised to ignore the former President, John Kufour, because no matter how true what he says, it rather draws some sympathy for him.
President JAK, I’ve been advised to ignore you and let you be because no matter how truthful what I say may be, it rather draws some sympathy for you… pic.twitter.com/6Vi4ySndi4
— Jerry John Rawlings (@officeofJJR) November 4, 2019