The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has urged the members of the party to emulate the values of accountability, probity and selfless service to the country as exemplified by the party’s founder, Jerry John Rawlings. 

Those principles, he stressed, must inform a structured set of national values to guide the conduct of citizens and public officials and called on the party members to lead a national effort to redefine Ghana’s moral compass based on Rawlings’ values and principles.

“Let’s take the lead to try to redefine our national values.

There is no country that has developed without national values,” Mr Asiedu Nketiah said. 

Rawlings birthday

Mr Asiedu Nketiah, who made the call last Sunday to celebrate the birthday of the party’s founder, the late President Jerry John Rawlings, renewed calls to reset Ghana through his values and also uphold his legacy.

The event took place on what would have been the late President’s 78th birthday and is expected to take place every 22nd June. It also took place at the party’s national headquarters in Accra.

In attendance were the NDC party faithful, party executives, members of the council of elders, some members of the late president's family and a cross-section of the public.

Ideals

Mr Asiedu Nketiah challenged Ghanaians to embrace and embody the ideals of the late former president.

The party Chairman also proposed legislative action to formalise this effort.

“Let’s take the debate to Parliament and define our national values so that we can judge our leadership and our citizens going forward,” he said.

He cautioned that without those benchmarks of conduct evidently displayed by Rawlings, the country would remain vulnerable to disorder and abuse of power.

“If you are deviating from the national values, there is something we can use to measure your conduct,” the party chairman added.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah then praised Rawlings’ practice of lifestyle audits and advocated the return of public asset declarations by officials.

“It doesn’t matter where you are placed as a citizen; you must always remember that you have to account for your stewardship,” he declared.

Reset campaign

For his part, the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey Fiavi, asserted that the NDC’s 2024 “Reset Ghana” campaign aligned with President Rawlings’ lifelong purpose.

He insisted that the reset must begin with individuals, particularly those within the NDC.

He proposed that the commemoration of President Rawlings’ birthday should serve as an annual moment for national reflection and regeneration.

“Let 22nd June be a day not just for Rawlings but for the very regeneration of the soul of our country,” he declared.

The event also saw the cutting of a birthday cake and singing of patriotic and party songs by the gathering.