The former Trade Minister and a close ally of late President Jerry John Rawlings, Mr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah says, the claim of the NDC that government is intentionally cutting the party out on the arrangements of the funeral rite of its founder is senseless.
Mr. Spio-Garbarh said, there is no need to make a fuss about the inactive involvement of the NDC in arrangement of the interment of the late President.
“I don’t think that discussion or argument really makes sense. The man is dead, he has passed away, I hope he passed away peacefully and I think our collective responsibility is to give him the most honorable and the most befitting burial that Ghana can organize…and I think no matter the outcome of this election is, President Rawlings will be sent off in a very grand and honorable way and that is what I think we should pray for.”
Mr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah noted that, the late President was bigger than the party and as such should not be treated as just a mire party member or executive. However, he indicated that it is a shame to lose the late President at all, due to the prominence he carried.
“It’s a shame to lose him at all, at any point in time. I mean it’s almost unthinkable… his loss is a great loss, not only to Ghana, not to our party. He was a man bigger than our party, bigger than Ghana, and even bigger than some parts of Africa. He was more popular in many countries in Africa than in Ghana.
“He saved Liberia from a very difficult situation… so he was beyond a coup maker (which he stated his life). He ended up both as a democrat and a good leader. He surrounded himself with the best and the brightest he could find and gave Ghana the best governance possible.”
Mr. Spio-Garbarh made these remarks in an interview where he recounted how he got his first public office appointment from the late President.
“In 1993, after the change to constitutional governance, I got a call that Rawlings wanted to see me and a friend… Rawlings took us flying and while we were in this plane, just after 7 minutes from the Airforce base; he just said ‘which of you is willing to take over’. I said I’m ready to take over and he told me to come and sit in the co-piloting seat… I think that, beyond my certificate, was what made him decide that I am fit to serve in his government.” Mr. Spio-Garbrah narrated.
